Napoleon Bonaparte is a man that, without a doubt, stirs the emotions of his followers. Some find him heroic and a mastermind; for his enemies were no match. Others think of him as a mad man with ambition and also find him responsible for many of the sins of his era. Between these extreme ideals, there are those who find some aspects of Napoleon admirable and others regrettable. This is a report on how his actions and achievements made him into the man and the leader that he was.
First of all, Napoleon was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, on August 15, 1769. He was the second child of eight by Carlo and Letizia Bonaparte. He started his education at Autun in 1778 and later attended Brienne, excelling in mathematics and science. After schooling, he took a year's studying at the "Ecole Militaire" in Paris and was commissioned to the artillery in 1785. 1789 was the start of the French revolution, a lingering of opportunity was about and Napoleon was bound to make the most of it .
When Napoleon fought Britain out of the main lands of France in 1793, "the Siege of Toulon," he was highly favored and promoted to brigadier general. He lost much respect after the "Coup de Thermidor" in 1794, in which Napoleon ended the jacobine republic and the lives of its prominent leaders; he was imprisoned. After his release, he stopped the Parisian Mob with artillery fire, "Whiff of Grapeshot," then appointed to command the French army in Italy.
While in Italy, from 1796-97, he inspired his poverty-stricken troops by promising, "honor, glory, and riches." He ruled the peninsula and forced Austria to sign the "Peace of Campo" treaty. After his successions of victories, gained by displaying bravery, intelligence, and leadership amongst his troops, he returned to France and was given charge of an expedition to Egypt to control the land which would threaten English possessions in India. He won the "Battle of the Pyramids" to gain control of Cairo but lost the naval battle at Aboukir Bay and was isolated in Egypt.
