Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) was a soldier and politician who, as Emperor of the French, launched a series of military conflicts shaped the politics and history of Europe in the early 19th century and beyond.
In January, 1814, it was clear that Napoleon was facing a final military defeat in Europe. Political and military leaders in the United States were worried by this course of events: the U.S. was engaged in a war with the British Empire, which in turn was at war with France. The Americans knew that once Napoleon was no longer an issue, the British would be able to turn its full attention to North America.
Indeed, once Napoleon abdicated on April 9, 1814, American forces were scrambling to engage the British.
