Personality of the Day: Winston Churchill

Personality of the Day is a series that highlights people who have had a great influence on society with their work, ideas, and leadership.

These people come from different backgrounds such as politics, science, literature, sports, and art; however, they have one similarity that all of them have shaped the world in one or the other way.

Their lives help us to remember that we should not give up and with determination, even the hardest things can be achieved.

Today we are going to discuss one of the most powerful political leaders ever, whose works and leadership defined the direction of the world which is Winston Churchill.

READ| Personality of the Day: Nelson Mandela

Personality of the Day: Winston Churchill 

Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim palace on November 30, 1874 in England according to the Government UK website. His family is very well known and his childhood was not that good in terms of studies. 

Being a student, he was not very bright in school and was regarded as average. However, he was a spirited man who was particularly interested in history and leadership. That is where he joined the Royal Cavalry in 1895. 

As a soldier and a part time journalist he travelled a lot including various trips to Cuba, Afghanistan, Egypt and South Africa.

Churchill was elected as Conservative MP for Oldham in the year 1900 and later he shifted to the Liberal Party in 1904. 

During the interwar years, Churchill again went back to join the Conservative Party where he served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1924. There he opted for Britain to re-join the Gold Standard which was very controversial. 

He was defeated in Tory elections in the year 1929 and then he spent around 11 years out of the office. That is when he started writing and making speeches. 

By the course of time, he earned a reputation of his strong speeches and daring decisions.

The course of his life changed the history of World War II, as he was elected the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the year 1940. 

Churchill made the people hopeful and strong at a moment when the country was dealing with grave dangers. His speeches that were high in confidence and determination made people rise up by millions to stand up during hard moments.

In his political life, Churchill did not give up though he was criticised and failed in earlier politics. He stood firm and believed in his country and was able to lead Britain in one of the most disturbing times.

Why is Winston Churchill Famous? His Major Contributions

Winston Churchill was remembered as a leader, a courageous man and an excellent communicator. His major contributions were:

• The Leadership during World War II: His contribution was very significant in spearheading Britain against Germany. His moves and determination enabled the country to remain strong throughout the war.

• Powerful Speeches: Churchill was famous for his inspirational speeches such as “We shall fight on the beaches” which uplifted the morale of people and brought them together.

• Writer and Historian: He was also a gifted writer other than a politician. He was also awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in the year 1953 over his historical works in writing and speech.

Family and Personal Life

Churchill spent his major life in politics. He got married to Clementine Churchill who was his helpmate in the process.

He loved painting and the culture of writing. He managed to escape stress in creative pursuits such as art and literature.

His life can be seen as one of resilience, confidence, and the necessity of not having the ability to back down when it comes to his beliefs.

Quotes by Winston Churchill

Here are some quotes by Winston Churchill: 

• “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

• “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.”

• “My tastes are simple: I am easily satisfied with the best.”

• “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”

• “It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required.”

To conclude, the life of Winston Churchill is a strong example of bravery and perseverance. He failed during his initial leadership years and received criticism and hardship but he never lost faith in himself and his nation.

READ| Personality of the Day: Bill Gates

For more such engaging general knowledge stories, head over to Jagran Josh.