Napoleon's Early Years :
Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769 at Ajaccio, Corsica, France. Napoleon was the fourth, and second surviving child of Carlo Buonaparte, a lawyer, and his wife Letizia Romalino. Around the time of his birth, Corsica's occupation by the French had drawn considerable local resistance. This caused Carlo Buonaparte to move to France, in order to protect his family. After settling in France, his father was able to enroll him and his brother Joseph in France's College d'Autun. As a boy, Napoleon learned the French language, and went on to graduate from a French military academy in 1785. During his study in the military, Napoleon's father Carlo Buonaparte died from stomach cancer. Due to this tragic event, Napoleon took over as the head of the family. Napoleon graduated early from the academy and became second lieutenant of artillery, returned to Corsica in 1786.