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History & Politics · South Africa

Nelson Mandela

27 years in prison, then president at 75

Portrait of Nelson Mandela
Photo: South Africa The Good News (2008), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons · source

Born Jul 18, 1918 · Died Dec 5, 2013

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Every entry, with its source

At 0

  1. Jul 18, 1918

    Born Rolihlahla Mandela in Mvezo, Transkei

    The name means troublemaker in Xhosa. A teacher gave him the name Nelson at about seven.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 20

  1. c. 1939

    Began a BA at the University of Fort Hare

    An elite Black college of about 150 students. Suspended after a year for a student council boycott.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 22

  1. Apr 1941

    Fled an arranged marriage to Johannesburg

    He arrived at 22 and started studying law.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 25

  1. c. 1944

    Co-founded the ANC Youth League

    He had joined the African National Congress the year before. He married Evelyn Mase that October.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 33

  1. c. 1952

    Led the Defiance Campaign; elected Transvaal ANC president

    He addressed 10,000 people in Durban on 22 June.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 35

  1. Aug 1953

    Opened a law firm with Oliver Tambo

    Mandela and Tambo, in downtown Johannesburg.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 38

  1. Dec 1956

    Arrested for high treason

    The Treason Trial dragged on until March 1961, when the judges acquitted the accused.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 43

  1. Dec 16, 1961

    Launched Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC's armed wing

    57 bombings on Dingane's Day announced its existence. He led it from hiding.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 45

  1. Jun 12, 1964

    Sentenced to life at the Rivonia Trial

    Captured in August 1962. Two months before sentencing he told the court he was prepared to die for a democratic society.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 63

  1. c. 1982

    Moved to Pollsmoor after 18 years on Robben Island

    On the island the prisoners had lectured one another; he called it the University of Robben Island.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 71

  1. Feb 11, 1990

    Released after 27 years

    He walked out of Victor Verster Prison holding Winnie's hand, broadcast live around the world.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 74

  1. c. 1993

    Nobel Peace Prize, shared with F. W. de Klerk

    Source: nobelprize.org

At 75

  1. May 10, 1994

    Inaugurated as South Africa's first Black president at 75

    After the country's first multiracial election on 27 April. A billion people watched.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 80

  1. Mar 29, 1999

    Farewell speech to Parliament; retired after one term

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 95

  1. Dec 5, 2013

    Died at 95 in Johannesburg

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nobelprize.org