Emperor Meiji (Meiji-tenno; November 3; 1852 - July 30; 1912); or Meiji the Great Meiji-taitei); was the 122nd Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession; reigning from February 3; 1867 until his death on July 30; 1912. He presided over a time of rapid change in the Empire of Japan; as the nation quickly changed from a feudal state to a capitalist and imperial world power; characterized by Japan's industrial revolution.

At the time of his birth in 1852; Japan was an isolated; pre-industrial; feudal country dominated by the Tokugawa Shogunate and the daimyo; who ruled over the country's more than 250 decentralized domains. By the time of his death in 1912; Japan had undergone a political; social; and industrial revolution at home and emerged as one of the great powers on the world stage. Pictures From History