"Napoleon" Bonaparte, Emperor of France, was born at Ajaccio in Corsica on the 15th ofAugust 1769…
Hismilitary genius revealed itself in December, 1793, when he was twenty-fouryears of age, in his recapture of Toulon from the English. He was made ageneral of brigade in the artillery, 20 December, and in 1794 contributed toMassena's victories in Italy. The political suspicions aroused by hisfriendship with the younger Robespierre after 9 Thermidor of the Year III (27July, 1794), the intrigues which led to his being removed from the Italianfrontier and sent to command a brigade against the Vendeans in the west, andill health, which he used as a pretext to refuse this post and remain in Paris,almost brought his career to an end. He contemplated leaving France to takecommand of the sultan's artillery. But in 1795 when the Convention was threatened,Bonaparte was selected for the duty of pouring grapeshot upon its enemies fromthe platform of the church of Saint Roch (13 Vendémiaire, Year IV). Hedisplayed great moderation in his hour of victory, and managed to earn at oncethe gratitude of the Convention and the esteem of its enemies…