JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Feb. 12, 1990 (UPI) - Here is a chronology of the highlights of Nelson Mandela's life: July 18, 1918 -- Nelson Mandela born at Qunu near the Transkeian capital of Umtata. Baby given the middle name of Rolihlahla, Xhosa for ''stirring up trouble.''
1940-1941 -- Mandela expelled from Fort Hare University for participating in student strike, goes to Johannesburg.
1942 -- Mandela joins African National Congress.
1944 -- Mandela marries nurse Evelyn Ntoko, becomes one of five founders of ANC's Youth League.
1949 -- Youth League takes control of ANC, with Mandela elected executive.
1951 -- Mandela elected Youth League president.
1952 -- Mandela helps organize Defiance of Unjust Laws Campaign, serves first brief term in prison, is banned for the first time, and together with ANC leader Oliver Tambo opens South Africa's first black legal partnership.
1954 -- Mandela revises ANC organizational structure, introduces M-plan based on small township street cells.
1956 -- Mandela, 155 co-defendants charged with treason; acquitted March 29, 1961.
1957 -- Mandela divorces Evelyn Ntoko; marries Winnie Madikizela on June 14, 1958.
1961 -- Mandela co-founds Umkhonto we Sizwe -- ''Spear of the Nation'' in Zulu -- army set up independently of the ANC to force change through sabotage.
Aug. 5, 1962 -- Mandela captured in Natal province while disguised as chauffeur after 17 months evading police.
Aug. 8, 1962 -- Mandela sentenced to five years in prison for inciting African workers to strike and leaving country without travel documents.
1963 -- Start of Rivonia trial, named after the Johannesburg farm housing the ANC's secret headquarters, involving Mandela and others.
June 12, 1964 -- Mandela, seven other Rivonia defendants sentenced to life in prison for sabotage, trying to overthrow government.
April 1982 -- Mandela moved from Robben Island Prison in Cape Town's Table Bay to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town's southern suburbs.
May 12, 1984 -- Winnie and Nelson Mandela allowed first contact visit after 22 years of communicating through glass windows.
Aug. 12, 1988 -- Mandela moved to Cape Town's Tygerberg Hospital suffering from tuberculosis.
Dec. 7, 1988 -- Mandela transferred from hospital to prison warden's house in the grounds of Victor Verster Prison outside Paarl, wine-growing town 35 miles from Cape Town.
July 5, 1989 -- Mandela has tea with President Pieter Botha at Cape Town presidential office of Tuynhuys.
Oct. 15, 1989 -- Mandela's remaining co-defendants, including Walter Sisulu, released unconditionally from quarter-century in prison.
Dec. 1, 1989 -- Mandela holds first meeting with President Frederik de Klerk at Tuynhuys.
Feb. 11, 1990 -- Mandela released from Victor Verster Prison.
