Winston Churchill was the prime minister of Britain and one of the most important leaders of the Allied forces through the Second World War (WWII). A career politician, military man, historian, and author, Churchill remains to this day one of the most recognizable and celebrated figures in British history.

Prior to the outbreak of WWII, Churchill had already served in high political office as a member of the Conservative Party and had risen to the military rank of First Lord of the Admiralty. During the 1930s, he adopted an unpopular stance against appeasement, vocally condemning the Munich Agreement, which allowed Adolf Hitler’s Germany to annex further territory on the promise it would be last. Though this stance compounded Churchill’s temporary position as something of a political pariah, the outbreak of WWII saw him rise to prominence in the political and public spheres. He was appointed prime minister on May 10, 1940, following Neville Chamberlain’s resignation, and addressed the House of Commons for the first time as prime minister with his “Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat” speech three days later. Once in power, Churchill proved himself as a strong and capable leader, bringing the nation together and leading the Allied Forces to victory.