Napoleon, for one, was a French military leader and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution. He is known for his military successes, including the invasion of Russia in 1812, and for his eventual EXILE to the island of Elba. His PASTRY of choice was the Napoleon, a multi-layered puff PASTRY dessert, and he was also known as Napoleon Bonaparte, or simply 'Nom' for short. He was crowned EMPEROR of the French in 1804, and was born on the Mediterranean island of Corsica.