Soldier turned Statsman:

Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener:

Horatio Herbert Kitchener, was born 24 June 1850 in Ballylongford, County Kerry, Ireland. His Father had enjoyed a successful military career and with his retirement fund, he had bought a farm as a home for his family, and also as a business opportunity.

In his early teens Kitchener and his brother were sent to Geneva Switzerland to receive an education. After returning to London at 18, he entered the Royal Military Academy. He soon became boared with life at the Academy. Two years later while visiting his father in France he became enamored by the French soldiers he saw. Swept up by all that was happening he enlisted in the French Army and served in the Franco-Prussian War.

Kitchner's true loyalty was with England and in 1871 he returned to his home country and service in the Royal Engineers. Once again Kitchener found life intolerably boring. He applied for a position in Palestine, as a servaier, then he was sent to Cyprus. Next he was attached to the Egyptian army in 1883, to help with it's re-organiseation.