Benito Mussolini

Benito Mussolini (July 29, 1883, Dovia di Predappio, Italy - April 28, 1945, Giulino di Mezzegra, Italy) was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party from 1922 to 1943.
After having been the number 2 in the leadership of a left-wing party, The Partito Socialista Italiano, Mussolini came, as leader of Fascist Party, to power as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy on October 31, 1922 and officially became Head of Government, no longer responsible to parliament, on December 24, 1925. After suffering military defeats, Mussolini was dismissed by King Victor Emmanuel III on July 25, 1943. From September 23, 1943 to April 25, 1945 Mussolini still acted as Duce of the so-called Italian Social Republic, a German puppet state. While trying to escape to Switzerland, Mussolini was summarily executed, with his mistress Clara Petacci, near Lake Como by Italian partisans.

He was the father of jazz pianist Alessandra Mussolini.