Pictured here is the youthful face of the most influential leader of 18^th & 19^th century Europe, Napoleon Bonaparte.  He was born Napoleone di Buonaparte on the island of Corsica in 1769 into minor Italian nobility. He survived the tumoltous times of the French revolution and went on to rise to the top of the French military . A brilliant military strategist and gifted political leader, Napoleon experienced many glorious victories and installed himself as Emperor of France in 1804. He was eventually defeated at the battle of Waterloo in 1815 and died in exile on the British island of Saint Helena.

Shown on left in picture in Western Slate.