Napoleon as a young man, 1797, possibly by Fracesco Cossia. By courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soane's MuseumNapoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, on 15 August 1769, to a family of minor nobility. The island, previously under Genoese control, had been ceded to France in 1768.

As a French citizen, Napoleon was eligible for a scholarship for the sons of impoverished nobles. In March 1779, he entered the military school in Brienne, where he flourished. His achievements, particularly in mathematics, helped him win a place at the Royal Military School in Paris in October 1784. From there, he was accepted into the prestigious artillery section of the army.

The outbreak of the Revolution offered Napoleon the opportunity to advance his military career. He was in the right place at the right time and his progress was rapid. In December 1793, at the siege of Toulon, he played a major part in retaking this strategic port from the Royalists and their British allies. Within two years – in October 1795 – he had become Commander of the Army of the Interior, a remarkable achievement.

'A dazzling fame' >>