From Prisoner To President: See 50 Most Inspiring Pictures From Nelson Mandela's Life

Iconic figures: South African President Nelson Mandela, left, and American pop singer Michael Jackson arrive at a news conference in Cape Town in 1999
Still paying tribute to one of the greatest men to ever  walk the face of the earth Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, here are 50 inspiring pictures from the exceptional leaders life. Enjoy.

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

Visit to London: Nelson Mandela visited the capital of the UK in 1962 to visit Oliver Tambo - a fellow anti-apartheid activist - visible in the background is the Big Ben clocktower and the Houses of Parliament

On 12 June 1964 - Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life for sabotage:  Mandela - a lawyer by training - told the court: 'I do not deny that I planned sabotage. I did not plan it in a spirit of recklessness nor because I have any love of violence. I planned it as a result of a calm and sober assessment of the political situation that had arisen after many years of tyranny, exploitation and oppression of my people by the whites.' 

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

Jubilant inhabitants of Soweto gather here at a mass African National Congress (ANC) rally which was originally called for to celebrate the unbanning of the ANC but turned out to be a celebration for the release of Nelson Mandela in June 1990

Powerful ally: African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela waves after he and U.S. President George Bush made remarks on the South Lawn of the White House June 25, 1990 - the support of the US public was key in securing his release

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

Support for change: ANC president Nelson Mandela is surrounded by young supporters after addressing residents at Phola Park, a squatter settlement east of Johannesburg, 31 May 1992

Long road: ANC leader, South African Nelson Mandela (L) and South African President, South African, F.W.De Klerk (R) posing for a photograph with medals and diplomas as they share the Nobel Peace Price 1993

Reconciliation and victory: Nelson Mandela walks past Francois Pienaar in the line up before the Rugby World Cup Final in Johannesburg's Ellis Park on June 24 1995, when Nelson Mandela presented the Webb Ellis Trophy to Francois Pienaar

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

Pope John Paul II (L) and South African President Nelson Mandela talking at the Presidential guest house in Pretoria in September 1995

Royal visit: Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and President Nelson Mandela during the British monarch's state visit to South Africa in 1995, a year after Mandela took office in 1994

Moral authority: In this Aug. 22, 1996 file photo, the Dalai Lama, left, walks hand-in-hand with South African President Nelson Mandela prior to an official reception at the presidential office in Cape Town, South Africa

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

Welcome to London: Nelson Mandela wearing a South African Olympic Squad tracksuit and a security guard cross the road near Park Lane on their way from Hyde Park in 1996

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

South African President Nelson Mandela receives a cricket bat from the South African Cricket captain, Hansie Cronje, during the lunch break on the third day of the Second Test between South Africa and India at Newlands on January 4, 1997

Popular culture: Prince of Wales (left) and South African President Nelson Mandela at a photocall with the Spice Girls (left to right), Mel C, Emma, Mel B, Geri and Victoria at the presidential residence Mahlamba Nalopfu in Pretoria in 1997

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

Unity: In this Aug. 11, 1998 file photo, South African President Nelson Mandela, (right), and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat gesture during a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa

South African Nobel Peace Prize winner and iconic political prisoner Nelson Mandela (R) with Cuban President Fidel Castro at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the GATT Agreement in 1998

Sympathy: U.S. President George W. Bush looks up at former South African President Nelson Mandela as they address the media gathered outside the Oval Office of the White House November 12, 2001

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

Charity: Former South African President Nelson Mandela (L) and Irish rock star Bono pose together after meeting at Mandela's residence at Houghton in Johannesburg, in this May 25, 2002 

Billionaire 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

World leaders: British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former South African President Nelson Mandela and former US President Bill Clinton attending a gala night to mark the centenary of the Rhodes Trust 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

Songstresses: Former South African President Nelson Mandela, from left, with U.S. singer Beyonce Knowles and British singer Annie Lennox on Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa in 2003

Old friends: Former US President Bill Clinton (R) sharing a joke with former South African President Nelson Mandela (L) at Mandela's private residence in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2005

West Indian cricket star, Brian Lara (L) meetings with Nobel Peace Prize winner and iconic political prisoner Nelson Mandela (R) at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa in 2005

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (L) embraces former South African President Nelson Mandela following remarks by Clinton during a visit to the Nelson Mandela Foundation July 19, 2007 in Johannesburg

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

Reunited: South African president and Nobel peace prize laureate Nelson Mandela (C) poses with the Rugby World Cup held by South African coach Jake White (L) and South African captain John Smit (R) in 2007

World hero: Former South African President Nelson Mandela waves to the crowd at Soccer City stadium during the closing ceremony for the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg, on July 11, 2010 and (right) holds the trophy aloft in 2004

Nelson Mandela, aged 94, is seen at his home in Qunu, South Africa during a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2012

Reflection: In this image dated Sept. 13, 2011 taken by photographer Adrian Steirn, shows former president Nelson Mandela's face reflected in a mirror

Madiba will be buried on December 15, 2013.