Mikhail Gorbachev, the man partly credited with bringing an end to the Cold War, was born into a peasant family near Stavropol. He joined the Communist Party in 1952 and rose through the Party hierarchy, eventually becoming a key figure in Soviet politics.

In June 1950, Mikhail Gorbachev became a candidate member of the Communist Party after applying to study law at Moscow State University. His worker-peasant origins and possession of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour likely helped him secure acceptance without an exam.

In 1952, Mikhail Gorbachev joined the Communist Party, marking the beginning of his political career. This event set the stage for his future rise to power within the Soviet Union.

On 25 September 1953, Mikhail Gorbachev and Raisa registered their marriage at Sokolniki Registry Office in Moscow, Russia.

In June 1955, Mikhail Gorbachev graduated with a distinction from Moscow State University. His final paper focused on the advantages of 'socialist democracy' over 'bourgeois democracy'. This academic achievement marked a significant milestone in his education.

In August 1955, Mikhail Gorbachev began working at the Stavropol regional procurator's office. However, he disliked the job and eventually used his contacts to transfer to work for Komsomol, where he became deputy director of the agitation and propaganda department for the region.

In March 1961, Mikhail Gorbachev was appointed as the First Secretary of the regional Komsomol. In this role, he made efforts to appoint women as city and district leaders, showcasing his early leadership abilities and commitment to promoting diversity.

In April 1970, Mikhail Gorbachev was promoted to the position of First Secretary of the Stavropol kraikom, granting him significant power over the Stavropol region. This marked a pivotal moment in his political career, as he took on a leadership role at a relatively young age.

In 1971, Mikhail Gorbachev was elected to the Central Committee, a significant milestone in his political career. This event helped him gain prominence within the Soviet political establishment.

In March 1972, Gorbachev was awarded the Order of the October Revolution by Brezhnev for overseeing a record grain harvest in Ipatovsky district.

In November 1978, Gorbachev was appointed a Secretary of the Central Committee with unanimous approval from its members, marking a significant step in his political career.

In 1980, Mikhail Gorbachev became a full member of the Politburo, marking a significant step in his political career.

Mikhail Gorbachev assumed the leadership role in the Soviet Union in 1985, initiating a series of political reforms to address economic and social challenges.

On 10 March 1985, Gorbachev was unanimously elected as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, succeeding Chernenko and becoming the eighth leader of the Soviet Union.

Mikhail Gorbachev assumed office as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union on March 11, 1985, initiating a series of reforms known as perestroika.

Mikhail Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, raising hopes among Americans for successful negotiations with a younger leader.

The Reagan and Gorbachev Summit took place on November 19, 1985. It was a significant meeting between the two leaders that marked a shift in US-Soviet relations.

A reactor explodes at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, with Soviet authorities acknowledging the blast three days later.

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland for talks with US President Ronald Reagan in October 1986.

A significant summit took place in Reykjavik, Iceland, with General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, shaping the dynamics of international relations and nuclear disarmament.

On October 11-12, 1986, Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan met in Reykjavik, Iceland, for a summit that did not result in any formal agreements. However, the meeting is considered a significant step towards future nuclear arms control agreements.

President Ronald Reagan's famous speech in Berlin, urging Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to demolish the Berlin Wall, a symbolic moment in the Cold War.

On 10 September 1987, Yeltsin wrote a letter of resignation to Gorbachev after a lecture from hard-liner Yegor Ligachyov at the Politburo. This was a significant event as nobody in Soviet history had voluntarily resigned from the ranks of the Politburo before.

On 27 October 1987, at the plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the CPSU, Yeltsin expressed his discontent with the slow pace of reform in society and the opposition to him from Ligachyov, making his position untenable. This led to a significant confrontation with Gorbachev, where Yeltsin requested to resign from the Politburo.

In October 1988, Mikhail Gorbachev consolidated power by becoming chairman of the executive committee of the Supreme Soviet, the national legislature.

President George H. W. Bush and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl engage in a telephone discussion regarding the situation in Germany.

West Berliners release balloons with a photo of Mikhail S. Gorbachev near the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin as a thank you gesture to the Soviet leader for his role in pulling down the Berlin Wall.

During the 43rd United Nations General Assembly Session, Gorbachev declared significant reductions in the Soviet military forces stationed in Eastern Europe and along the Chinese border.

US transcripts reveal discussions between President George H. W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev aboard the Soviet cruise ship, Maxim Gorky, during the Malta Summit.

The Congress of People’s Deputies elects General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev as the new president of the Soviet Union in 1990, revealing weaknesses in his power base that eventually led to the collapse of his presidency in December 1991.

U.S. President George H. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev shake hands after signing the START arms reduction treaty in Moscow.

From August 18-21, 1991, hard-liners attempted a coup against Gorbachev, the Soviet president, which led to his house arrest. Boris Yeltsin played a significant role in denouncing the 'traitors' and rallying crowds against them, ultimately leading to the collapse of the coup and establishing himself as the country's most powerful and popular politician.

The collapse of the Soviet Union was marked by a failed coup by Communist hard-liners in August 1991, leading to the weakening of Gorbachev's position and the rise of Boris Yeltsin and other reformers. Eventually, the Soviet Union dissolved on December 25, 1991.

On December 8, 1991, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus declared the Soviet Union dead and announced the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

On December 25, 1991, Gorbachev resigned in a televised address and turned over the nuclear codes to Yeltsin, marking a significant shift in power and leadership in the aftermath of the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as the President of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991, leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union on the same day. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was established as a free association of sovereign states, with Boris Yeltsin assuming many responsibilities of the former Soviet Union.

The 25th anniversary of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, marking the end of the Cold War era and the beginning of a new chapter in global politics.

After leaving office, Mikhail Gorbachev established the Gorbachev Foundation in March 1992. The foundation focused on analyzing and defending the history of perestroika, as well as critiquing life in post-Soviet Russia.

In 1993, Mikhail Gorbachev launched Green Cross International, focusing on sustainable futures. He later initiated the World Political Forum and the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in 1995.

In 1995, Mikhail Gorbachev published his memoirs in Russian, followed by an English version the next year. He also began writing a monthly syndicated column for The New York Times.

On March 1, 1996, Mikhail Gorbachev published an open letter calling for an alternative to Boris Yeltsin and the Communist Party's Zyuganov in the Russian presidential election. This marked the beginning of his campaign for a democratically elected office.

On April 13, 1996, Mikhail Gorbachev's candidacy for the Russian presidential election was officially certified by the Central Election Commission after he collected over 1.4 million signatures. This confirmed his participation in the election.

On Victory Day in Volgograd, Gorbachev faced hostile crowds who jeered him as a traitor. He was confronted at the war memorial by Viktor Anpilov and his supporters, who condemned Gorbachev for the collapse of the Soviet Union. The incident was marked by intense political tension and public animosity.

Gorbachev cast his vote in the 1996 election and declared that he had voted for 'the most worthy candidate'. He spent the night of the election in Moscow with Alexander Haig.

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev stands with daughter Irina and granddaughter Krenia as they grieve before the coffin with Raisa Gorbachev’s body at Russia’s Culture Fund in Moscow.

In 2000, Mikhail Gorbachev helped form the Russian United Social Democratic Party. He later participated in meetings with Putin and other political figures, aiming to promote social democracy in Russia.

In 2004, Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader, won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children. He shared this award with former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

In September 2008, Mikhail Gorbachev and Alexander Lebedev announced the formation of the Independent Democratic Party of Russia. Gorbachev criticized the Russian government and called for re-elections after the 2011 parliamentary elections.

In 2009, Gorbachev met with US president Barack Obama to improve strained US–Russian relations and engage in efforts to 'reset' their diplomatic ties.

In April 2011, Gorbachev underwent complex spinal surgery in Germany at the Munich clinic Schön Klinik München Harlaching.

On 11 June 2013, it was reported that Gorbachev was hospitalized for a routine examination.

In November 2014, Gorbachev warned about the escalating tensions in Donbas leading to a new Cold War at an event marking 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

In 2016, Gorbachev emphasized the rejection of solving problems through military force and criticized NATO's troop deployment in Eastern Europe amid rising tensions.

A 2017 survey showed that opinions on Gorbachev are deeply divided, with 46% of Russian citizens having a negative opinion towards him. However, many in Western countries view him as the greatest statesman of the second half of the 20th century.

After the death of George H. W. Bush in 2018, Gorbachev acknowledged their joint efforts in ending the Cold War and nuclear arms race, expressing gratitude for Bush's contributions.

In January 2021, Gorbachev expressed concern over US-Russia relations and urged US president Joe Biden to initiate talks with Russia for clarity and normalization of relations.

In December 2021, Gorbachev criticized the US for NATO expansion post-Soviet Union collapse, endorsing security talks between the US and Russia for potential resolutions.

In February 2022, Gorbachev's foundation called for an immediate end to hostilities in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of peace negotiations and preservation of human lives.

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev passed away on August 30, 2022 in Moscow, Russia at the age of 91. He was the last president of the Soviet Union and played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of his time.

The passing of Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union and the man who restored democracy to then-communist-ruled European nations, was mourned as the loss of a rare leader who changed the world and gave hope for peace among superpowers.

Significant events in the life and career of Mikhail Gorbachev, a key figure in the history of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.