Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, died today. Last night friends and family gathered around his deathbed. Per The Telegraph Mr. Mandela’s family had noticed a decline in his health recently.

Born in 1918, to the Thembu royal family, Mr. Mandela was enrolled in Fort Hare University and the University of Witwatershare. Mr. Mandela helped end the apartheid in South Africa after serving 27 years in prisons on Robben Island, Pollsmoor Prison, and Verster Prison. He and former South African President Frederik Willem de Klerk abolished the apartheid in South Africa, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. Mr. Mandela was the first black South African President-he served from 1994 to 1999. Mr. Mandela had been receiving 24 hour intensive care from military and other doctors since earlier this year in Sept., at which time he was released from a hospital who was treating Mr. Mandela for a lung infection.

Mr. Mandela helped shape the world for many millions of people around the world. He fought an oppressive government, people, and media and won that fight. Mr. Mandela was a true humanitarian and our thoughts go out to the Mandela family and the people of South Africa, for they have lost one of their greatest leaders.