Sir Winston Churchill (1874–1965)

Born to an aristocratic family, Sir Winston Churchill served as a soldier and journalist before entering politics. He was elected to the British Parliament in 1900 and rose rapidly in his political career. By 1911, he was leading the British Navy as First Lord of the Admiralty. After several setbacks, he was regarded as a political failure by influential politicians.

Churchill was one of the first to warn that the rise of Hitler and National Socialism were a threat to liberty. As Germany began its westward advance, Neville Chamberlin resigned and Churchill became prime minister. In this role, he rallied the British when they stood alone against Nazism, leading them to victory in the Battle of Britain, an important turning point in World War II. After the Second World War, Churchill warned about the threat posed by Stalin and communism.

As Great Britain faced a battle for survival, Churchill addressed the British Parliament on 4 June 1940 and said:

‘We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender…’