Kipling was born in Bombay, India and educated in England. He returned to India in 1882 at the age of 17 to serve as a newspaper editor. He is famous for his books and poems about colonial India:
The Jungle Book, 1894
Kim, 1901
His idealized version of the true Englishman made of the right stuff is clearly evident in his poem "If." In spite of its idealism, "If" does a wonderful job of capturing our modern day view of what makes a great leader.