National Geographic Readers: Nelson Mandela (Readers Bios)Nelson Mandela, who courageously dealt with adversity and emerged a world leader, has been an inspirational role model for millions of people around the world, from students to presidents. After being imprisoned for 27 years, in 1994 he became South Africa's first democratically elected president and shared the Nobel Peace Prize. Mandela died in 2013, but his legacy lives on as a barrier breaker and humanitarian. Learn all about his life, especially