His Father was a Prussian Officer and he entered the army at the age of 12.
He attained the rank of Major-General in the Prussian Military, and is famous for writing the military strategy book Vom Kriege(On War), first published in 1832.
Despite his death before quite completing On War, his ideas have been widely influential in military theory. One idea, that actual war includes "friction" which deranges, to a greater or lesser degree, all prior arrangements, has become common currency in other fields as well (i.e. business strategy).
He married Countess Marie von Brühl.
"War is merely the continuation of policy by other means," is perhaps his is most oft-quoted point. The idea that war -- violent military action -- is only the "strong arm" of diplomacy, utilized when more peaceful means of persuasion are not sufficient.
