History of National Winston Churchill Day

There’s much to be said about the half-American, all-grit English treasure that is Winston Churchill. Born to a wealthy American mother and grandson to a Duke, Churchill was born into greatness. His early years, however, proved to be difficult, struggling with academia and his studies. His teacher’s called him “unpunctual and careless.” However, as he grew older, Churchill excelled in history and began writing poetry that was published in school magazines. After repeated insisting by his father, Churchill began preparation for a military career and graduated from the Royal Military Academy in 1894. In his early 20s from 1895 to 1900, Churchill saw combat in Cuba, India, Sudan, and South Africa, was mentioned in dispatches and recommended for a decoration, earned four campaign medals and the Spanish Order of Military Merit, wrote five books, established himself as a popular war correspondent and lecturer, gained international fame as an escaped prisoner of war, and was elected to a seat in Parliament, all before his twenty-sixth birthday. He would later lead Britain into victory during the second World War under his command as prime minister. As a celebrated politician, army officer, and writer, it’s hard to even determine which he had been the most impactful to. With a Nobel Prize in Literature, numerous medals of honor and an undeniable impact on the world we live in today, we choose this day to honor a man who didn’t just achieve greatness, he personified it.