Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was born to the Thembu royal family in South Africa in 1918. Attending university in Johannesburg, he studied law and became involved in anti-colonial politics. As a young lawyer, Mandela became involved in the African National Congress party, speaking out against the policy of apartheid. In 1962, Mandela was convicted of sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government and was sentenced to life in prison. He served 27 years and upon his release, helped abolish apartheid and establish multi-racial elections. In the 1994 general election, Mandela was elected President of South Africa. In his retirement, Mandela has continued his activism and focused on combating HIV/AIDS and other causes through the Nelson Mandela Foundation.