On 11 February 1990, the world looked on as Nelson Rohlihlala Mandela was released from the Victor Verster Prison, after 27 years behind bars for his contribution in the fight for freedom in South Africa.

1918: Nelson Rohlihlala Mandela is born at Mvezo in the Transkei on 18 July.

1925: He attends primary school near Qunu. His teacher wants all children to have a Christian name so gives Mandela the name ‘Nelson’.

1927: After the death of his father, Mandela is entrusted to Nkosi Jongintaba Dalindyebo, the acting Regent of the Thembu people at the Great Place at Mqhezweni.

1934: He undergoes initiation, and attends Clarkebury Boarding Institute in Engcobo.

1937: Goes to Healdtown, the Wesleyan College at Fort Beaufort.

1939: Mandela enrolls at the University College of Fort Hare, in Alice, where he befriends Oliver Tambo.

1940: Mandela is expelled for participating in a Students' Representative Council boycott against the university policies.

1941: Mandela escapes an arranged marriage and relocated to Johannesburg, where he becomes a mine night watchman. He lives in Alexandra, and starts his articles at the law firm Witkin, Sidelsky & Eidelman.

1942: Completes his BA degree through the University of South Africa (UNISA). Writes the exams at Fort Hare.

1943: Enrolls for an LLB at Wits University after graduating with a BA at Fort Hare.

1944: Co-founds the ANC Youth League (ANCYL); Marries Evelyn Ntoko Mase, with who he has four children: Thembekile born in1946, Makaziwe in 1947 (who dies after nine months); Makgatho born in 1951, and Makaziwe born in 1954, and named after her older sister.

1948: Elected national secretary of the ANCYL

1951: Elected president of the ANCYL

1952: The Defiance Campaign begins and Mandela is arrested. He is elected Transvaal ANC President. He is arrested for violating the Suppression of Communism Act. Along with J S Moroka, Walter Sisulu and 17 others, he is convicted under the Suppression of Communism Act. They are sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labour, suspended for two years. Mandela qualifies with a diploma allowing him to work as an attorney and is employed by law firm HM Basner. He is elected the first of two ANC deputy presidents; Opens South Africa’s first black law firm with Oliver Tambo.

1953: Devises the M-Plan for the ANC’s future underground operations

1955: Watches as the Congress of the People at Kliptown launches the Freedom Charter.

1956: Arrested and joins 155 others on trial for treason. All are acquitted.

1958: Mandela divorces Evelyn Mase, and marries Nomzamo Winnie Madikizela. They have two daughters: Zenani born in 1959 and Zindziswa born in 1960.

1960: The ANC is banned on 30 March, a State of Emergency is imposed and Mandela is detained.

1961: He goes underground. Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), the ANC's military wing, is formed.

1962: Mandela leaves the country for military training. On 5 August he gets arrested near Howick, and is sentenced to five years for incitement and leaving the country illegally.

1963: Sent to Robben Island; tried in Pretoria, for sabotage with nine other MK members

1964: All except Bernstein and Kantor are convicted and sentenced to life in prison, on 12 June.

1969: Mandela's son, Thembekile is killed in a car accident. He is not allowed to attend the funeral.

1982: Mandela, Sisulu, Mhlaba and Mlangeni and later Kathrada are sent to Pollsmoor Prison.

1985: He rejects P W Botha's offers to release him if he renounces violence. Mandela undergoes prostate surgery.

1988: In August, Mandela contracts TB and is admitted to Tygerberg Hospital for six weeks. In December, he is admitted to Constantiaberg MediClinic, and on 9 December is moved to Victor Verster Prison.

1990: On 11 February, Mandela is released from prison, and on 2 March he is elected to ANC Deputy President.

1993: He is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with South African president, FW De Klerk.

1994: On 27 April, South Africans go to the polls in the first democratic election, and Nelson Mandela votes for the first time in his life. He is elected as the first president of a democratic South Africa and is inaugurated as president on 10 May.

1995: He establishes the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

1996: Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela divorce.

1998: On his 80th birthday, 18 July, he marries Graca Machel, former first lady of Mozambique.

1999: Mandela steps down after one term as president and establishes the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

2001: He is diagnosed with prostate cancer.

2002: Launches global HIV/Aids campaign 46664, named after his prison number.

2003: Establishment of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation.

2004: He announces that he will be stepping down from public life.

2005: Mandela announces that his son, Makgatho, died of an AIDS-related illness.

2006: The Centre of Memory and Dialogue approved as the core work of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

2007: His eldest grandson, Mandlesizwe Mandela, is invested as Nkosi Zwelivelile of Mvezo. It is also the inauguration of the Nelson Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development.

2008: Mandela celebrates his 90th birthday and asks the emerging generation to continue the fight for social justice.

2009: Attends the inauguration of South Africa’s fourth democratically elected president Jacob Zuma. In July, Mandela turns 91 and receives copies of the children’s version of his autobiography from his great-grandson Ziyanda Manaway.

2010: Attends a reunion gathering at his home in Johannesburg to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his release from prison.