Randolph Churchill
British MP, son of Winston Churchill (1911–1968) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Major Randolph Frederick Edward Spencer Churchill[lower-alpha 1] MBE (28 May 1911 – 6 June 1968) was an English journalist, writer and politician.
Randolph Churchill | |
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Member of Parliament for Preston | |
In office 29 September 1940 – 5 July 1945 | |
Preceded by | Adrian Moreing |
Succeeded by | John William Sunderland |
Personal details | |
Born | Randolph Frederick Edward Spencer Churchill (1911-05-28)28 May 1911 London, England |
Died | 6 June 1968(1968-06-06) (aged 57) East Bergholt, Suffolk, England |
Resting place | St Martin's Church, Bladon |
Political party | Conservative |
Spouses |
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Children | |
Parents | |
Education | Eton College |
Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
Profession |
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Military service | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch/service | British Army |
Years of service | 1938–1961 |
Rank | Major |
Unit | 4th Queen's Own Hussars Queen's Royal Irish Hussars |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Member of the Order of the British Empire |
The only son of future British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his wife, Clementine, Randolph was brought up to regard himself as his father's political heir, although their relations became strained in later years. In the 1930s, he stood unsuccessfully for Parliament a number of times, causing his father embarrassment. He was elected as Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Preston at the 1940 Preston by-election. During the Second World War, he served with the SAS in North Africa and with Tito's partisans in Yugoslavia. Randolph lost his seat in 1945 and was never re-elected to Parliament. Despite his lack of success in politics, Randolph enjoyed a successful career as a writer and journalist. In the 1960s, he wrote the first two volumes of the official life of his father.
Randolph was married and divorced twice. His first wife was Pamela Digby (later Harriman); their son Winston later became a Conservative MP. Throughout his life, Randolph had a reputation for rude drunken behaviour. By the 1960s, his health had collapsed from years of heavy drinking; he outlived his father by only three years.