US has Lincoln. France has Napoleon. Who is the greatest leader in British history?

Question

I know there are different opinions, but who is the “generally accepted” greatest leader in British history? I think either Benjamin Disraeli, Winston Churchill, or Queen Elizabeth, but I may be wrong.

Thanks for your answers.
The result is:
Winston Churchill: 10
Admiral Lord Nelson: 1
Margaret Thatcher: 1
Oliver Cromwell: 1
William the Conqueror: 1
Richard I: 1
King Arthur: 1

Answer 1

Sir Winston was a very controversal man. He was Prime Minister twice, once during WWII and then in the eary 50's (I Believe the 50's or late 40's). He was greatly appreciated during the war, but not well liked as he was egotistical, hard-headed and firm. Very few compliments, lots of criticism from him. The same thing was said re: Patton, during wartime, he is the man you want, in peace he is a liability.

Having said all above, my vote would be for Churchill.

Answer 2

I would go with Winston Churchill. If he had not held steadfast against the Germans (unlike the French Vichy government), England and Great Britain may have been dissolved.

A similar argument could be made for Queen Elizabeth I. If she had married, England could have been absorbed by the country of her husband. However - in that historical time, the chance of England dissolving was low because countries did not have the ability to do it as well as countries in the 20th century.

I vote Churchill.

Answer 3

Greetings! About five years ago, I struggled through a biography of Winston Churchill by a former member of Parliament named Roy Jenkins (there is a formal title to his position, but I don't remember it). He had written that Churchill was the greatest leader of the twentieth century, as "Gladstone" was in the 19th Century.

Who Gladstone is and why Jenkins said he was famous, I really have no idea. US history in the 19th century is extremely complex, let alone what was going on in the rest of the world. I'll have to take up Western Civilization some day.

You may want to look Mr. Gladstone and have a look-see, but Churchill definitely was the UK's greatest leader in the twentieth Century. Take care.

Answer 4

I vote for Winston Churchill! Huh, Elizabeth? Lloyd George might be a candidate.

Answer 5

Since Napoleon (and even Lincoln) were military leaders - I respectfully submit these two leaders as "the greatest in British history." Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington or Vice-Admiral Horation, 1st Viscount Nelson. If you enter those names in a Google search you'll see why.

Answer 6

Richard I (the Lion Hearted) or Churchill

Answer 7

The traditional British hero is Lord Nelson, who fought Napoleon's troops at the Battle of Trafalgar. He's honoured in one of London's most magnificent monuments, Trafalgar Square.

Answer 8

All Churchill aside, I'd say The Beatles or Eric Clapton...hee hee.

Either them or Patsy & Edina from AB Fab.

Cheers!

Answer 9

The USA doesn't have Lincoln (I dissent- I am for Washington and many others); the British, it would be Winston Churchill, without any second thought.
~

Answer 10

Margaret Thatcher