Winston Churchill

Churchill's Indian Summer

An inspiring leader during the dark days of war, Winston Churchill was losing popularity with the Conservative defeat of the post war years. But despite growing pressure from his cabinet colleagues Churchill chose his own time to relinquish the office of Prime Minister.

Winston Churchill

The 'Churchill Question' is a complex one: a study in failure as well as success.

In office May 1940 - July 1945, October 1951 – April 1955

In an initially turbulent career, Churchill, while home secretary (1910-11), used troops against striking miners, and he resigned as first lord of the admiralty after the failed Gallipoli landings. As chancellor of the exchequer (1924-29) he returned Britain to the gold standard. Becoming a staunch opponent of appeasement in the 1930s, Churchill entered the war cabinet in September 1939 and became prime minister in May 1940. He was an energetic, inspiring and imaginative leader, and both his oratory and cultivation of Anglo-American relations were vital to the war effort. Defeated in the general election of 1945 Churchill became prime minister again from 1951 to 1955, when he retired because of ill health. He was knighted in 1953.