Ian Fleming was born into a wealthy and influential English family, which afforded him the opportunity to attend prestigious British schools such as Eton and Sandhurst military academy. During his schooling years in Kitzbuhel, Austria, Fleming discovered his passion for writing and began to hone his craft.
After failing to meet the entrance requirements for the Foreign Service, Fleming joined the news agency Reuters as a journalist, where he quickly gained the respect of his peers for his exceptional coverage of a high-profile "show trial" in Russia involving several Royal Engineers accused of espionage.
Following a brief stint in the financial sector for his family's bank, Fleming was recruited into British Naval Intelligence just prior to the outbreak of World War II. He excelled in his role, rising through the ranks to achieve the position of Commander.
After the war, Fleming retired to Jamaica, where he built a house called "Goldeneye" and dedicated himself to writing full-time. It was during this period that he created the character that would make him a household name - British Secret Service agent James Bond - in his novel "Casino Royale".
Fleming spent the remainder of his life writing and traveling the world, but as his Bond character reached new heights of popularity on the big screen, Fleming's health began to decline. He sadly passed away in England in August 1964 at the age of 56 due to a heart attack, which was his second.
