The Earliest Winston Churchill Letter Written in the United States Known to Have Reached the Market

Churchill made his first trip to the United States in 1895, but was here only a very short time. Then, in October 1899, with the outbreak of the 2nd Boer War (between Great Britain and the Boer Republics of South Africa), he took on a job as a war correspondent at the scene of conflict.  He was taken prisoner by the Boers and subsequently (and famously) escaped in a harrowing adventure. His actions during this time made him a national hero, and rather than returning home, he joined a military unit that marched on Pretoria and received the surrender of 52 Boer prison camp guards.

On his return in 1900 he published an account of his experiences and successfully ran for a seat in parliament. From there he embarked on a lecture tour of England, where he was met with throngs of admirers, and then went on to America for a tour.  This was Churchill's first trip to the UnIted States of professional consequence.  His mother was, of course, American and he had American relatives, but this time he aimed to profit financially and spread his renown.  

He left England on December 1 and arrived at New York on the 8th.  On December 10, he met with then-Governor Theodore Roosevelt, who was the Vice President-elect, and himself a war hero-turned politician.  On December 11, he gave his first lecture in Philadelphia.  Immediately following that, he traveled to New York City, where on the 12th he addressed another crowd, this one containing Mark Twain and, again, Governor Roosevelt.  Indeed, Twain introduced Churchill on the 12th with some warm words.  

The New York Times reported on the event, "Mr. Churchill was greeted cordially by the audience," said the Times. "He showed nervousness at first, but soon forgot himself in his subject, and held the attention of his listeners by a clear recital of some of the most striking episodes of the struggle between Boer and Briton. A touch of humor, introduced half unconsciously, lightened up the lecture considerably."

The Purdy was family was related to Churchill through his American mother, and during this trip in Boston J.E. Purdy would take a memorable photograph of Churchill.  On his arrival in New York on the 11th, Churchill was visited by his cousin Randoph Purdy, who suggested the two meet and tour the sites together.

Typed letter signed, New York, December 11th, 1900, to Randolph Purdy.  "Dear Purdy, Many thanks to you for leaving your card for me; I am sorry we cannot have an opportunity of seeings the sights in New York together.  I am now engaged every night while in America with my lecture tour, but I have I shall have some opportunity of seeing you before I leave New York. Yours Truly, Winston S. Churchill."

Churchill's tour of America was not a failure but nor was it a ringing success.  Crowds in America were less approving of British action in the Boer War and the profits were not what he would have hoped.

A search of public sale records going back 40 years indicates that Churchill wrote no letters from the United States on his 1895 trip, and that the first letters of his from the U.S. known to have reached the market were dated December 11, 1900. There were just two, and this is one.