| Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi was born into a | | | | others from the underground movement to enroll |
| Bedouin family in the desert area of Sirte in Libya | | | | in the Academy. In addition, he also encouraged |
| on 7 June 1942. He received a traditional religious | | | | cadets already at the Academy to join him and |
| primary education before attending a preparatory | | | | the members of the underground in forming the |
| school in the nearby town of Sebha where he | | | | central committee of the Free Unionist Officers in |
| became strongly influenced by the pan-Arab | | | | 1964. |
| nationalism being espoused by the Egyptian leader, | | | | Around this time, Gaddafi also enrolled in the |
| President Gemal Abdel-Nasser. | | | | University of Benghazi, to complete his education |
| During the Suez crisis of 1956, Gaddafi took part | | | | by achieving a degree in history. On graduating |
| in anti-Israeli demonstrations staged in Sebha, | | | | from the Military Academy at Benghazi, he was |
| which led to his expulsion from the city. He | | | | appointed to the rank of lieutenant and assigned |
| moved to the coastal city of Misurata where he | | | | to the army's Signal Corps based at Gariunis on |
| completed his secondary education whilst | | | | the outskirts of the city of Benghazi. Whilst |
| beginning to organise an underground revolutionary | | | | stationed there, he continued to strengthen the |
| movement. His increasing radicalism led him to | | | | power base of the movement, the full network, |
| enrolling in the Military Academy at Benghazi in | | | | power and influence of which, only he was |
| October 1963; in an indication of his future | | | | completely aware of. |
| charisma as a leader, he managed to persuade | | | | |