Churchill: Cometh the Finest Hour In May 1940, Winston Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain as prime minister. But the great war leader’s rise to power was far from inevitable. Taylor Downing explains what a difference a day made. Taylor Downing | Published in History Today Volume 60 Issue 5 May 2010 To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5. Start my trial subscription now If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems. Winston Churchill Popular articles Doc Holliday: The Perennial Sidekick Is it Possible to Forgive and Forget?