Nelson Mandela

Biography

A South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader and philanthropist who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. After spending 27 years in prison, he led the effort to end apartheid.

Legacy

Mandela is a global icon of peace and reconciliation. His ability to forgive his captors and work towards a multiracial democracy prevented a civil war and made him a symbol of justice and human dignity worldwide.