Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (29 July 1883 - 28 April 1945) was an Italian politician; journalist; and leader of the National Fascist Party; ruling the country as Prime Minister from 1922 until he was ousted in 1943.

He ruled constitutionally until 1925; when he dropped all pretense of democracy and set up a legal dictatorship. Known as Il Duce ('The Leader'); Mussolini was the founder of fascism.