When Winston Churchill died at the age of 90 in 1965, one of the most important figures in modern history had left the stage. From providing some of the 20th century’s greatest soundbites to successfully navigating Great Britain to victory in World War II against great odds, Churchill was at the forefront of events for decades, becoming one of the most influential Britons in history. In 2002, he was named the Greatest Briton of All Time, and 40 years earlier he was the first person to be made an Honorary Citizen of the United States.

Churchill will forever be most associated with World War II, but his life was far more adventurous and complex than that, and these other aspects of the man are often overlooked and overshadowed. He came from an aristocratic family, but his father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was not the firstborn son. That was important because the family estate was entailed, meaning the oldest son inherited the title of duke along with the land and the wealth. Thus, while Churchill grew up in Blenheim Palace, he did not inherit his family’s wealth, and that is one reason he became a correspondent and negotiated high rates of pay: he needed the income. The family’s aristocratic connections greatly facilitated his career, but it was his own courage, determination, and ability that led to his fame and historical importance, along with some phenomenal luck.

Before politics, Churchill was an officer in a cavalry regiment and a war correspondent, which took him to conflicts on four continents, and he escaped death more than once. His greatest escape was from a South African prison camp, which made him a national hero and greatly facilitated his election to Parliament.