Of course, everyone knew who Winston Churchill was. His command of the English language and masterful writing made him a true celebrity. He was well on his way to becoming one of the best-known American authors of his day.

Wait… American author?

That’s right. We’re talking about the Winston Churchill who was born in 1871 in St. Louis, Missouri. His novels and other literary works were best sellers. One book, Richard Carvel, was published in 1899 and skyrocketed to third place on the list of American best-selling fiction. At a time when the country’s population stood at about 76 million, Richard Carvel sold over 2 million copies.

That same year, there was another Winston Churchill who wasn’t nearly as well known. He had gained some notoriety as a war correspondent during the Second Boer War, but there was little danger that his reputation might come anywhere close to that of the famed American author.

“Mr. Winston Churchill presents his compliments to Mr. Winston Churchill, and begs to draw his attention to a matter which concerns them both.”

The British Churchill, however, dared to hope that history might have room for another Winston Churchill. He was preparing for his first election to Parliament. He also planned to release his novel Savrola the next year. Wanting to avoid unnecessary public confusion, he wrote to his American counterpart and proposed a solution:

London, June 7, 1899.

Mr. Winston Churchill presents his compliments to Mr. Winston Churchill, and begs to draw his attention to a matter which concerns them both. He has learnt from the Press notices that Mr. Winston Churchill proposes to bring out another novel, entitled Richard Carvel, which is certain to have a considerable sale both in England and America.

Mr. Winston Churchill is also the author of a novel now being published in serial form in Macmillan’s Magazine, and for which he anticipates some sale both in England and America. He also proposes to publish on the 1st of October another military chronicle on the Soudan War.

He has no doubt that Mr. Winston Churchill will recognise from this letter — if indeed by no other means — that there is grave danger of his works being mistaken for those of Mr. Winston Churchill. He feels sure that Mr. Wiston Churchill desires this as little as he does himself. In future to avoid mistakes as far as possible, Mr. Winston Churchill has decided to sign all published articles, stories, or other works, ‘Winston Spencer Churchill,’ and not ‘Winston Churchill’ as formerly. He trusts that this arrangement will commend itself to Mr. Winston Churchill, and he ventures to suggest, with a view to preventing further confusion which may arise out of this extraordinary coincidence, that both Mr. Winston Churchill and Mr. Winston Churchill should insert a short note in their respective publications explaining to the public which are the works of Mr. Winston Churchill and which those of Mr. Winston Churchill. The text of this note might form a subject for future discussion if Mr. Winston Churchill agrees with Mr. Winston Churchill’s proposition. He takes this occasion of complimenting Mr. Winston Churchill upon the style and success of his works, which are always brought to his notice whether in magazine or book form, and he trusts that Mr. Winston Churchill has derived equal pleasure from any work of his that may have attracted his attention.

The American Winston Churchill found the proposal by the British Winston Churchill agreeable. A couple of years later, fate arranged for the two men to meet in person.

It was February 1901. The British Churchill was in the USA for a lecture tour. He happened to be in Boston at the same time the American Churchill was visiting the city. When the American Churchill checked into the Touraine Hotel, he discovered that the postal service had accidentally delivered the other Churchill’s mail to him. This happy mistake prompted a meeting of the two Winston Churchills.

By all accounts, the two men hit it off splendidly. They spent lunch trying, without success, to find a common ancestor. The British Churchill confided to the other that he had big plans for the future — plans that were not limited to the literary realm. “I mean to be Prime Minster of England,” he said. “It would be a great lark if you were President of the United States at the same time.”

For a while, it appeared that both men would follow parallel paths toward destiny. The next year, the American Churchill was elected as a representative to the New Hampshire Legislature from Cornish. He tried for the governorship of New Hampshire in 1912, but the loss ended his political aspirations.

The other Churchill, as we all know, was only getting started in 1901. He became a phenomenally successful author. His earliest works adhered to his proposal to show “Winston Spencer Churchill” as the author. Later, this was shortened to “Winston S. Churchill,” which remained his pen name for the rest of his literary career.

As remarkable as his literary career was, it was in the realm of politics and statesmanship where the British Churchill really came into his own. He twice rose to the highest elected office in Great Britain and is revered as the man who led Britain through the darkest days of World War II.

The American Winston Churchill, in contrast, pretty much went into seclusion after his failed gubernatorial run. He made one more contribution to literature in 1941 with his book a treatise on Christianity, The Uncharted Way. The sales were disappointing. He died on March 12, 1947, after living long enough to see his fame more than eclipsed by the British Churchill. “His once great public had forgotten him,” the New York Times reported in his obituary.

The other Churchill’s reputation has only increased in the years since. Perhaps it is a kindness that the American Churchill died when he did. Had he lived for another 16 years, he would have had to deal with the fact that it is no longer enough to refer to him as “the American Churchill.” In 1963, Congress conferred honorary U.S. citizenship to the British Winston Churchill. That means that there are, technically, two American Winston Churchills.

Fortunately, the gentlemen’s agreement between the two men survives. While there may be two American Churchills, there is only one Winston S. Churchill. Well… technically, that’s not even true, but that’s a story for another day.

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