Who was Winston Churchill’s father Lord Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill?

WINSTON Churchill was immortalised for leading Britain from near defeat to victory in the Second World War.

The WW2 prime minister's political roots came from his father, Lord Randolph Churchill, a former Conservative MP and Chancellor. But who was Lord Randolph? Here's what we know...

Lord Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill, a British politician, was born February 13, 1849, in London

Who was Winston Churchill's father Lord Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill?

Lord Randolph Churchill, in full Lord Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill, was born on February 13, 1849, in London.

He was a British politician who was an influential figure in the Conservative Party and the father of Winston Churchill.

He became leader of the House of Commons and Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1886, at the age of 37.

He seemed certain to be prime minister in due course, but his own miscalculation ended his political career before the year was over.

Although he remained in the House of Commons until his death, Churchill lost interest in politics and devoted much time to horse racing.

Lord Churchill died in January 24, 1895, aged just 45.

Lord Randolph Churchill became leader of the House of Commons and Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1886, at the age of 37

What was his medical condition?

His last years were tragic, a general syphilitic paresis deranging his mind and killing him slowly and painfully.

Paresis is caused by widespread destruction of brain tissue occurring in some cases of late syphilis.

Mental changes include gradual deterioration of personality, impaired concentration and judgement, delusions, loss of memory, disorientation, and apathy

Who was his wife and how many children did he have?

In 1873 he met American Jennie Jerome, who was just 19 at the time.

The couple married at the British Embassy in Paris on April 15, 1874.

The Churchills had two sons from their marriage.

Winston, the future Prime Minister, was born less than eight months after their marriage on November 30, 1874.

Winston's brother John Strange Spencer-Churchill was born six years later in 1880. He was commonly known as Jack Churchill.

Writing in her book American Jennie: The Remarkable Life of Lady Randolph Churchill, author Anne Sebba detailed how Lady Randolph's sisters believed the biological father of Jack was Evelyn Boscawen, 7th Viscount Falmouth.

But the theory was discredited due to the boys' striking likeness to their father and each other.

Originally published on The Sun