Elizabeth Ann Everest (13 February 1834 – 3 July 1895) was an English nurse and

nanny A nanny is a person who provides child care. Typically, this care is given within the children's family setting. Throughout history, nannies were usually servants in large households and reported directly to the lady of the house. Today, modern ...

, notable for being an important figure in the early life of

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...

Biography

She was born in

Chatham, Kent Chatham ( ) is a town within the Medway unitary authority in the ceremonial county of Kent, England. The town forms a conurbation with neighbouring towns Gillingham, Rochester, Strood and Rainham. In 2020 it had a population of 80,596. Th ...

, the daughter of William and Ann Everest. On the 17th, August 1834, she was baptised at the Ebenezer Chapel, Clover Street, Chatham. She was never married; "

Mrs MRS, Mrs, or mrs may refer to: Acronyms * ICAO code for Air Marshall Islands, an airline based in Majuro, Marshall Islands * Magnetic resonance spectroscopy * Mammography reporting software, used to manage data related to radiologist interpretat ...

" was an

honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an Honorary title (academic), h ...

given to nannies and cooks as a courtesy. One of her early jobs was for the family of Thompson Phillips, a clergyman in

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is an area of North West England which was historically a county. The county was bordered by Northumberland to the north-east, County Durham to the east, Westmorland to the south-east, Lancashire to the south, and the Scottish ...

, where she brought up Ella Phillips for 12 years. The 1861 census shows that she was then aged 27 and was working as a servant for the May family at 5 Cambridge Terrace, Lee, Kent. They had four young children, and Mr May was an Underwriter. She went into service with the Churchill family at the beginning of 1875, a month after Winston's birth. Later she was responsible for his younger brother Jack as well.

Lord Randolph Churchill Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill (13 February 1849 – 24 January 1895) was a British aristocrat and politician. Churchill was a Tory radical who coined the term "One-nation conservatism, Tory democracy". He participated in the creation ...

and Jennie Jerome Churchill were very active in society but emotionally distant, even neglectful, of their son. Young Winston became very close with his nanny and addressed her as "Woom," the nearest he could get to saying "Woman." Churchill wrote in his autobiography, '' My Early Life'' : "I loved my mother dearly - but at a distance. My nurse was my confidante. Mrs Everest it was who looked after me and tended all my wants. It was to her I poured out all my many troubles." She remained with the family until 1893, when she was let go. Churchill biographer

William Manchester William Raymond Manchester (April 1, 1922 – June 1, 2004) was an American author, biographer, and historian. He was the author of 18 books which have been translated into over 20 languages. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal and the ...

wrote that her firing was handled abruptly and poorly, given her long and devoted service to the family. She then returned to the Thomson Phillips family - he was by then an archdeacon in

Barrow-in-Furness Barrow-in-Furness is a port town and civil parish (as just "Barrow") in the Westmorland and Furness district of Cumbria, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in the county of Lancashire, it was incorporated as a municipal borou ...

- and lived there for about a year. Her final home was with her sister, 15 Crouch Hill in

Finsbury Park Finsbury Park is a public park in Harringay, north London, England. The park lies on the southern-most edge of the London Borough of Haringey. It is in the area formerly covered by the historic parish of Hornsey, succeeded by the Municipal ...

North London North London is the northern part of London, England, north of the River Thames and the City of London. It extends from Clerkenwell and Finsbury, on the edge of the City of London financial district, to Greater London's boundary with Hertfordshi ...

. Everest died there of

peritonitis Peritonitis is inflammation of the localized or generalized peritoneum, the lining of the inner wall of the abdomen and covering of the abdominal organs. Symptoms may include severe pain, swelling of the abdomen, fever, or weight loss. One pa ...

on 3 July 1895. Churchill telegraphed the Venerable Thompson Phillips, and the two men attended the funeral service together (although her other charge, Ella, did not). Churchill wrote, " hillipshad a long memory for faithful service." Churchill paid for Everest's headstone in the

City of London Cemetery and Crematorium The City of London Cemetery and Crematorium is a cemetery and crematorium in the east of London. It is owned and operated by the City of London Corporation. It is designated Grade I on the Historic England National Register of Historic Parks an ...

, Newham, Greater London. His son, Randolph, wrote, "For many years afterwards he paid an annual sum to the local florist for the upkeep of the grave." Inspection of the headstone shows the wording “by Winston Spencer Churchill” at the base with "Jack Spencer Churchill" reported to be below that wording.

Biography

References

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