Birth of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Birth of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Biography and Timeline
Follow Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela through 221 dated historical records for South Africa.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
221Distinct records
1 of 6Page
1918–1952Years on this page
1918
1925
Primary School at Qunu
Attends primary school near Qunu.
Receives the Name Nelson
Teacher Miss Mdingane gives Rolihlahla the name Nelson.
1930
Death of His Father
His father dies when Mandela is about twelve.
Moves to Mqhekezweni
Becomes a ward of Regent Jongintaba Dalindyebo.
1934
Clarkebury Boarding Institute
Begins studies at Clarkebury Boarding Institute.
Thembu Initiation
Undergoes traditional initiation into manhood.
1937
Healdtown Education
Enrolls at Healdtown Wesleyan College.
Wesleyan College Studies
Continues secondary education at the prominent mission school.
1939
Bachelor of Arts Studies
Begins university studies toward a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Fort Hare Enrollment
Enrolls at the University College of Fort Hare.
1940
Fort Hare Expulsion
Is expelled from Fort Hare after a student protest.
Student Protest
Leaves university following conflict over student representation.
1941
Legal Clerkship
Begins work as a clerk in a Johannesburg law firm.
Witkin Sidelsky and Eidelman
Starts practical exposure to the South African legal profession.
First Johannesburg Employment
Gains his first employment after arriving in Johannesburg.
Mine Security Employment
Works briefly as a mine security officer.
Escapes Arranged Marriage
Begins a new life in Johannesburg.
Moves to Johannesburg
Leaves the Transkei to avoid an arranged marriage.
1942
Completes BA Degree
Finishes his undergraduate degree while living in Johannesburg.
UNISA Bachelor of Arts
Completes his Bachelor of Arts through UNISA.
Begins Attending ANC Meetings
Begins attending African National Congress meetings informally.
Early ANC Involvement
Develops closer involvement with African nationalist politics.
1943
Legal Studies Begin
Studies law while becoming increasingly active politically.
Wits LLB Enrollment
Enrolls for an LLB degree at Wits University.
1944
Mandela Family Begins
Begins a family while expanding his political involvement.
Marriage to Evelyn Mase
Marries Evelyn Ntoko Mase.
ANC Youth League Co-Founded
Helps establish the African National Congress Youth League.
Youth League Organisation
Supports a more militant programme for African political mobilisation.
ANC
Appointed Member of ANC
1948
ANCYL National Secretary
Is elected national secretary of the ANC Youth League.
Role range: 1948-1951
Youth League Leadership
Takes a senior organisational role in the Youth League.
Role range: 1948-1951
1950
President of South Africa
Appointed President of the ANC Youth League
ANC
Helps found the ANC Youth League
1951
ANCYL Presidency
Is elected president of the ANC Youth League.
Role range: 1951-1952
Youth League National Leadership
Leads the Youth League as mass resistance planning intensifies.
Role range: 1951-1952
1952
Curfew
Nelson Mandela and 51 others infringe South Africa curfew
Defiance Campaign Leadership
Serves as Volunteer-in-Chief of the Defiance Campaign.
Volunteer-in-Chief Appointment
Coordinates nonviolent civil disobedience against apartheid laws.
Defiance Campaign Conviction
Receives nine months imprisonment suspended for two years.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.