August 15 is a memorable date for at least two important 18th/19th century figures. Napoleon Buonaparte was born August 15, 1769, and Sir Walter Scott, who wrote a biography of the man, the same day in 1771. In between, and less celebrated, was French General Jean Sarrazin, born August 15, 1770; 365 days before Scott.
Buonaparte became Emperor of the French in 1804. Sir Walter Scott effectively invented the romantic historical novel. In between was a man who became a spy for the British, against Napoleon.
It is one year from the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott's birth.
