Short Timeline of Nelson Mandela
1918July 18: Rolihlahla Dalibhunga Mandela is born a member of the Madiba clan. His tribal name, "Rolihalah," means "troublemaker." He is later given his English name, Nelson, by a teacher at his school
1919His father is dispossessed of his land and money on the orders of a white magistrate 1927His father dies. The acting chief of the Thembu clan, Jongintaba Dalindyebo becomes his guardian and ensures he receives an excellent education
1937Moves to Healdtown attending the Wesleyan college in Fort Beaufort.Fort Hare University: Studied for a B.A. and met his lifelong friend Oliver Tambo
1939Asked to leave Fort Hare due to his involvement in a boycott of the Students' Representative Council against the university policiesMoves to Johannesburg to escape an arranged marriage and experiences the system of apartheid which forbade the black population to vote, travel without permission or own land
Worked as a guard at a mine and then clerk at a law firm
Completed his degree via a correspondence course at the University of South Africa
Studies Law at the University of Witwatersrand whilst living in Alexandra
1943Joins the African National Congress (ANC) as an activist. 1944Forms the Youth League of the ANC with Oliver Tambo and Walter SisluMarries his first wife Evelyn Ntoko Mase. The couple had three children but the marriage breaks up in 1957
1948South African government (Afrikaner-dominated National Party) limits the freedom of black Africans even more when the apartheid policy of racial segregation is introduced across the country
1952Opens the first black legal firm in South Africa with fellow lawyer Oliver Tambo providing free or low-cost legal counsel to many blacks who would otherwise have been without legal representation.Mandela was prominent in the ANC's 1952 Defiance Campaign
1955Freedom Charter adopted at the Congress of the People calling for equal rights and a program of the anti-apartheid cause
1956December 5: Accused of conspiring to overthrow the South African state by violent means with 155 other political activists and charged with high treason. The Treason Trial of 1956–61 follows and all were acquitted
1957His marriage of 13 years to his first wife Evelyn Ntoko Mase breaks up 1958Marries Nomzamo "Winnie" Madikizela, a social worker, and the couple have two children. Their marriage ended in separation in April 1992 and divorce in March 1996
1959Parliament passes new laws extending racial segregation by creating separate homelands for major black groups in South AfricaThe ANC loses most of its financial and militant support when members break away to form the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) under Potlako Leballo and Robert Sobukwe
1960Sharpeville Massacre: Police kill 69 peaceful protestors and the ANC is bannedMandela goes into hiding and forms an underground military group with armed resistance
1961Issues a call to arms and becomes the ANC leader of the newly formed Umkhontoat guerrilla movement at the All-In African Conference
1962August 5: Arrested after living on the run for seventeen months and was imprisoned in the Johannesburg Fort.25 October 25: Nelson Mandela was sentenced to five years in prison but again goes on the run
1964June 12: Captured and convicted of sabotage and treason and sentenced to life imprisonment at the age of 46, initially on Robben island where he would be kept for 18 years
1965Rhodesia gains its independence and only whites are represented in the new government 1968His mother dies and his eldest son is killed in a car crash but he not allowed to attend either of the funerals
1974Rhodesia expelled from united nations due to the policy of apartheid 1976Over 600 students killed in protests at Soweto and Sharpeville 1977Steve Biko, the leader of the protests, is killed whilst in police custody. 1980The exiled Oliver Tambo launches an international campaign for the release of his friendZimbabwe gains its independence
1983The government allows farmers to re-arm and protect themselves from black dissidents. 1984Governement sources state that declared that since 1983 black dissidents have murdered 120, mutilated 25, raped 47 and committed 284 robberies
1986 Sanctions against South Africa tightened costing millions in revenue 1988Amnesty is announced for all dissidents - 122 surrender. 1990February 11: Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 yearsPresident De Klerk lifts the ban on the African National Congress (ANC)
The ANC and the white National Party begin talks on forming a multi-racial democracy for South Africa.
1991Becomes President of the African National Congress ( ANC )The International Olympics Committee lift a 21 year ban on South African athletes competing in the Olympic Games.
1992April: Separates from Winnie Mandela after she is convicted of kidnapping and being an accessory to assault.
1993March: Divorces Winnie MandelaNelson Mandela and Mr de Klerk are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
1994April 26: Free Elections where black South Africans are allowed to vote for the first time. Nelson Mandela runs for PresidentThe ANC won 252 of the 400 seats in the national assembly
May: Inaugurated as the first black president of South Africa. He appoints de Klerk as deputy president and forms as racially mixed Government of National Unity.
1995South Africa hosts the 1995 Rugby World Cup and South Africa wins. Nelson Mandela wears a Springbok shirt when he presents the trophy to Afrikaner captain Francois Pienaar. This gesture was seen as a major step in the reconciliation of white and black South Africans.
1998Marries Graca Machel, the widow of the former president of Mozambique, on his 80th birthday.Tour of Canada
1999Relinquishes presidency in favor of Thabo Mbeki, who was nominated ANC president in 1997.Toured the world as a global statesman
2000Appointed as mediator in the civil war in Burundi 2001Nelson Mandela was diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer with radiationMade an honorary Canadian citizen
2003Attacked the foreign policy of the George W. BushLater that same year, he lent his support to the 46664 AIDS fundraising campaign. The initiative was named after his prison number
2004June: Nelson Mandela announced that he would be retiring from public life at the age of 85July: Flew to Bangkok to speak at the XV International AIDS Conference
23 July: Johannesburg bestowed its highest honour by granting Nelson Mandela the freedom of the city
2005 6 January: His son, Makgatho Mandela died of AIDS
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