Cato the Elder, also known as Marcus Porcius Cato, was a Roman statesman and military leader born in 234 BCE. He is best known for his conservative values and his efforts to preserve the traditional Roman way of life. Cato served as a senator and was a prominent figure during the late Republic, advocating for the importance of agriculture and the virtues of the Roman citizen-soldier. Cato was also a historian and wrote the first comprehensive history of Rome in Latin. His most famous work, De Agri Cultura, focused on farming and agriculture, reflecting his belief in the importance of self-sufficiency. Cato's legacy includes his famous phrase, "Carthago delenda est," meaning "Carthage must be destroyed," highlighting his strong opposition to Carthage during the Punic Wars.