See the 50 most inspiring pictures from Nelson Mandela's life

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, into a royal family of the Xhosa-speaking Thembu tribe in the South African village of Mvezo. While studying law as a young man, he became involved in the movement against racial discrimination, forging key relationships with black and white activists and in 1944 he joined the African National Congress (ANC) and helped establish its youth league, the ANCYL. Mandela’s commitment to activism intensified after the 1948 introduction of the apartheid. 'Boxing is egalitarian. In the ring, rank, age, color and wealth are irrelevant' wrote Mandela in his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom

Wedding: This photograph taken in 1957 shows South African anti-apartheid leader and African National Congress (ANC) member Nelson Mandela posing with his wife Winnie during their wedding

This picture taken on June 16, 1964 shows eight men, among them anti-apartheid leader and African National Congress (ANC) member Nelson Mandela, sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia trial leaving the Palace of Justice in Pretoria with their fists raised in defiance through the barred windows of the prison car

 Historic: In this Feb. 11, 1990 file photo, Nelson Mandela, left, and his wife, Winnie, walk out of the Victor Verster prison in Paarl, near Cape Town, South Africa, after Mandela had spent 27 years in jail

In this June 15, 1990 file photo, Pope John Paul II, right, shakes hands with Nelson Mandela, deputy leader of African National Congress, during a private audience at the Vatican

South African anti-apartheid leader and African National Congress (ANC) member Nelson Mandela (R) shaking hands with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on the steps of No 10 Downing Street in July 1990

Return: South African President Nelson Mandela visits 10 February 1995 his former cell in notorious Robben Island prison off the coast of Cape Town where he spent 19 of his 27 years in jail

Royal reception: In this July 9, 1996 file photo, South African President Nelson Mandela stands with Queen Elizabeth II on his arrival at Buckingham Palace in London for a state banquet in his honor

Leader and philanthropist: South African President Nelson Mandela (L) shares a joke with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates after their meeting at Mandela's residence in Cape Town, in this file picture taken March 11, 1997

                                         

Two Icons: In this March 17, 1997 file photo, South African President Nelson Mandela, left, shows the way to Britain's Princess Diana in Cape Town, South Africa, where they discussed the threat of AIDS in the country

Prison: In this March 27, 1998 file photo, South African President Nelson Mandela, left, and U.S. President Bill Clinton peer through the bars of prison cell No. 5, the cramped, gray cell where Mandela was jailed

Iconic figures: South African President Nelson Mandela, left, and American pop singer Michael Jackson arrive at a news conference in Cape Town in 1999

Former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, right, speaks during a press conference alongside British model Naomi Campbell in Barcelona, Spain, before the 'Frock and Roll' benefit concert in 2001

Talk show host and political giant: Former South African president Nelson Mandela (L) poses with television personality Oprah Winfrey in Henley, Johannesburg, in this December 6, 2002 picture

Two giants: Former South African President Nelson Mandela lands a "straight left" to the chin of former World Champion Muhammad Ali as South African Special Olympics Athlete Rofhiwa looks on in June 2003

Soccer fan: Former President Nelson Mandela receives an England team jersey with "Mandela" on the back from captain David Beckham in Johannesburg in 2003

Quick Kiss: Former South African President Nelson Mandela kisses U.S. singer Beyonce Knowles, at the Nelson Mandela AIDS Benefit Concert in Cape Town, South Africa Saturday Nov. 29, 2003

US actor Brad Pitt (top) with Former South African President Nelson Mandela, after being appointed as a 46664 Ambassador (the number denotes Mandela's prison ID) in 2009