On April 1, 1815, Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck was born to a mother of government ministers and a father of Prussian landowning nobility in Saxony. He was educated in Berlin. He went on to study law at the University of Gottingen and the Universtity of Berlin. After his studies at university, he held some diplomatic posts, ran his family estate, and then became a politician. Bismarck was outspoken against liberalism, especially during the Revolutions of 1848. He was, however, an advocate for German nationalistm and unity.
In 1861, William I became the King of Prussia. In 1862, he appointed Bismarck as his chief minister. Bismarck, who was really in charge, delivered his famous "Iron and Blood" speech, which expounded Prussia's will to achieve its goals in militaristic ways.
Bismarck maintained his willingness to use "iron and blood" when he began a series of wars that clearly demonstrated Prussia's ability at war, leadership, and politics. In 1864 he won the German-speaking Schleswig-Holstein territory from Denmark. In 1866, he defeated the Austria, the dominant power (besides Prussia) in the German Confederation, in the Austro-Prussian War. Finally, in 1870, Bismarck provoked the French to declare war on Prussia by stirring political tension. Through the Franco-Prussian War from 1870 - 1871, Prussia was able to unify the German states against a foreign enemy. The German states swiftly defeated the French, and Prussia once more established its dominance.
With the end of the Franco-Prussian War, Germany was unified under the Treaty of Versailles of 1871. William I was crowned emperor of the newly unified German Empire, which became a dominant nation state in Europe, greatly upsetting the balance of power.
After Germany was unified, Bismarck focused on more domestic issues. Most notably, he created a welfare state with nationale healthcare, insurance, and old age pensions to combat the growing popularity of socialism.
Kaiser Wilheim I died in 1888 and was succeeded by Friedrich III (who died from cancer in 99 days) and Wilheim II. The new monarch opposed Bismarck's cautious inclination with foreign policy; he favored more aggressive and rapid expansion. The two disagreed over social, political, and economic issues, which only exacerbated the rift between them.
Under Wilheim II's insistence, Bismarck resigned in 1890. He spent his final years warning of the dangers of militaristic governments and conflict in the Balkans.
By the time of his death, Bismarck was respected and honored, becoming a figure for strong German leadership. He has been revered as a hero and German patriot, espeically due to his crucial role in spearheading German unification. Many streets and monuments are thus dedicated to him.