Born in 1885, he is 29 years old at the start of the story, turning 30 during its course. He stands 173cm tall. A handsome man characterized by short black hair and dark eyes peering through sharp lids. However, because he has a somewhat youthful face, he is often seen as younger than his actual age (a fact he is shown to be self-conscious about in bonus comics). He is a notorious womanizer, behaving sociably while flirting with women, and sometimes showing a negligent attitude toward his duties by spending long hours on military phone lines talking to hostesses. He has a playful side that teases Ed on a whim, but also a side that bickers with Ed on the same maturity level. However, this persona is merely a facade created for the outside world. Inwardly, he hides a strong will and conviction to "change the current nation." He is an ambitious man aiming to take the seat of Führer of Amestris (the de facto head of state) and seize full control of the military. To that end, he is a cunning tactician who skillfully deceives those around him by posing as a philandering playboy while meticulously advancing his own agenda behind the scenes.