Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was known for his domineering presence, sharp wit, and uncompromising resilience in the face of adversity, when lesser men would falter. His epic speeches, often paraphrased and parodied, rival Shakespeare and Dickens in their cultural resonance in popular perceptions of Britishness exported across the globe. Often a difficult man, his razor-sharp tongue would frequently get him into trouble, particularly amongst political rivals and the opposite sex.
His role in supporting innovative technological military solutions, including the development of the tank and his recognition of the importance of aerial warfare, are well documented by commentators and historians alike.
Perhaps less well known are his American ancestry, his animated primate impressions and his prolific artistic output.
Some obscure Churchill facts are below examined, which may shed some light on the twentieth-century figure.
1. British Bulldog?
Churchill, the 'British Bulldog' – and symbol of all things British – is in fact half-American. Churchill's English roots are undisputed; indeed, his paternal ancestry, courtesy of his father Lord Randolph Churchill, can be traced back to the illustrious Dukes of Marlborough. However, his American heritage is equally impressive. His mother, Jennie Jerome, was the daughter of the American millionaire Leonard Jerome.
As The Times has noted, his paternal grandmother was a relative of George Washington. According to one source, his family tree can be linked to George Herbert Walker Bush and son. Further cementing his American ties, Churchill was the first individual ever to be acknowledged as an Honorary Citizen of the United States.
Incidentally, the Churchill family motto is 'Fiel Pero Desdichado', meaning 'faithful but unfortunate'. Whilst seemingly an unusual choice of mantra, Winston appears to have bucked the trend of misfortune.
2. Impeccable timing – in life and death
One of Churchill's most revered traits – at various stages, both a blessing and a curse - was a determination, bordering on stubbornness, to operate on his own terms. Whilst no doubt a coincidence, it would appear this applied to entrances and exits.
Churchill was born prematurely in a cloakroom at Blenheim Palace, where his expectant mother was attending a party. She was unable to reach a bedroom in time, before labour commenced. He died on the exact same day as his father (only 70 years later) at the age of 90, in January 1965.
3. Churchill the Artist
Churchill was a prolific painter, producing nearly 600 works throughout his lifetime. Sarah Thomas of Sotheby's has commented "Churchill took up painting very late... He found relief from all the pressures of his work in his painting." In December 2006, one piece, 'View of Tinherir' from 1951, sold at auction for a record £612,800. According to Thomas, however, it took him a while to master his trade: "His work does vary in quality... A lot of his paintings are pretty poor and amateur and full of splodges."
4. Prisoner of War
In 1899, Churchill escaped a prisoner of war camp whilst a correspondent in South Africa, during the Boer War. The bounty on his head was 25 pounds. He returned home a hero, perhaps a taster of what was to come for the young Churchill.
5. Churchill the Historian
Winnie was a gifted writer, novelist and historian; in his lifetime, he published volume upon volume of works on the history of England and Europe, including A History of the English Speaking Peoples and, not least, his six-part epic collection, The Second World War.
His literary merit was officially recognised when he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953 "for his historical and biographical presentations and for the scintillating oratory in which he has stood forth as a defender of human values." Incidentally, he is still the only British Prime Minister to have won the prize.
