Winston Churchill (November 10, 1871 – March 12, 1947) was an American best-selling novelist of the early 20th century.

He became an expert fencer and he organized at Annapolis the first eight-oared crew, which he captained for two years.

In 1895, he became managing editor of the Cosmopolitan Magazine, but in less than a year he retired from that, to have more time for writing.

However, Mr. Keegan's Elopement had been published in 1896 as a magazine serial and was republished as an illustrated hardback book in 1903.

The novel was the third best-selling work of American fiction in 1899 and eighth-best in 1900, according to Alice Hackett's 70 Years of Best Sellers.

[2] Churchill's early novels were historical, but his later works were set in contemporary America.

In 1898, Churchill commissioned Charles Platt to design a mansion in Cornish, New Hampshire.

Churchill became involved in the Cornish Art Colony and went into politics, winning election to the state legislature in 1903 and 1905.

In 1912, he was nominated as the Progressive candidate for governor but did not win the election and did not seek public office again.

The two men arranged to meet on two occasions when one of them happened to be in the other's country, but were never closely acquainted.