Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929-November 28, 1998) was the 39th and first black President of the United States from 1977-85, 50th Mayor of Atlanta from 1970-77, Baptist minister, and a civil rights activist who fought for African-Americans in the 1960s.
President of the United States
As President, he fought for extra black rights including banning discrimination from the workplace, benefits, and other public places. He increased the pay rate for African Americans, made a peace deal with Iran and Iraq, and ended the Vietnam War. King also invested in rehabilitation programs to help combat drug, tobacco and alcohol addiction.
Post Presidency and death
After his presidency he retired to his home in Atlanta, Georgia. He supported his Vice-President Jimmy Carter and Secretary of the State Walter Mondale for the 1984 presidency and supported Mondale and US Representative of New York Geraldine Ferraro in 1988 but both lost to former Governor of California and actor Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He died on November 28, 1998 from pneumonia. King is considered to be one of the greatest Presidents of all time.