Nelson Rohlihlala Mandela Abridged Chronology

• 1918 (18 July): Born at Mvezo in the Transkei.
• 1925: Attends primary school near Qunu.
• 1934: Goes to Clarkebury Boarding Institute in Engcobo.
• 1937: Goes to Healdtown, the Wesleyan College at Fort Beaufort.
• 1939: Enrols at the University College of Fort Hare, in Alice.
• 1940: Expelled.
• 1941: Escapes an arranged marriage, becomes a mine night watchman in Johannesburg. Starts articles at the law firm Witkin, Sidelsky & Eidelman.
• 1942: Completes BA through UNISA.
• 1943: Enrols for an LLB at Wits University; joins ANC.
• 1944: Co-founds the ANC Youth League (ANCYL); Marries Evelyn Ntoko Mase.
• 1948: Elected national secretary of the ANCYL.
• 1951: Elected President of the ANCYL.
• 1952: Mr Mandela is arrested. Elected Transvaal ANC President. Opens South Africa's first black law firm with Oliver Tambo.
• 1956: Arrested and joins 155 others on trial for Treason. All are acquitted.
• 1958: Divorces Evelyn Mase; Marries Nomzamo Winnie Madikizela.
• 1960: The ANC is banned, a State of Emergency imposed and Mr Mandela detained.
• 1961: Goes underground; Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) formed.
• 1964: Sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage.
• 1982: Mr Mandela, Sisulu, Raymond Mhlaba and Andrew Mlangeni and later Ahmed Kathrada are sent to Pollsmoor Prison.
• 1985: Rejects P W Botha offers to release him if he renounces violence.
• 1990: Released. Elected ANC Deputy President.
• 1993: Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with FW De Klerk.
• 1994: Votes for the first time in his life. Elected as first president of a democratic South Africa.
• 1996: Divorces Winnie Mandela.
• 1998: Marries Graça Machel on his 80th birthday.
• 1999: Steps down after one term as president.
• 2002: Launches global HIV/AIDS campaign 46664.
• 2003: Establishment of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation
• 2004: Announces that he will be stepping down from public life.
• 2006: Centre of Memory and Dialogue approved as the core work of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
• 2008: Turns 90 years old, asks the emerging generation to continue the fight for social justice.