Nelson Mandela

His Excellency, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918 – 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist, politician, and statesman 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 representative democratic election. By the time of his death, in South Africa Mandela was widely considered both “the father of the nation” and "the founding father of democracy". Outside of South Africa, he was a global icon, with people describing him as one of the most revered figures of our time.

Over the course of his life, Mandela was given over 250 awards, accolades, prizes, honorary degrees and citizenships in recognition of his political achievements. Among these awards were the Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Soviet Union's Lenin Peace Prize. In 1990, India awarded him the Bharat Ratna, and he was appointed to the Order of Isabella the Catholic and the Order of Canada, and was the first living person to be made an honorary Canadian citizen. Queen Elizabeth II appointed him as a Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St. John and granted him membership in the Order of Merit.