April 28, 1545 - Born on this day in present-day Seoul, South Korea, Admiral Yi Sunsin (right) would ably defend his country against Japanese aggression until his death at the Battle of Noryang Point in 1598. He is credited with the development of the Turtle Boat, an early form of the ironclad warship. While not as well known, many have compared his skill and genius with that of Horatio Nelson.

A soldier first, Yi Sunsin won distinction as a gifted strategist fighting along the Manchurian border before earning command of naval forces in southwest Korea. In 1592, he used this fleet to defeat the Japanese at the Battles of Okpo and Sacheon. Over the next six years, Yi Sunsin fought the Japanese twenty-one times, winning every engagement. His greatest triumph came in October 1597, at the Battle of Myeongnyang, when outnumbererd 13 ships to 333, he routed the Japanese. In December 1598, Yi Sunsin was killed by a Japanese bullet as his fleet was in the process of achieving victory off Noryang Point.

Photograph Courtesy of commons.wikipedia.org