Birth date: Officially listed as Aug. 13, 1926, in Cuba's Oriente Province.
Education: Attended Roman Catholic schools and University of Havana, where he earned social science and law degrees.
Before taking power: Launched his revolutionary fight with a July 26, 1953, attack on military barracks in the eastern city of Santiago. He was arrested, then freed under amnesty. Traveled to Mexico to form rebel army and returned to Cuba with followers aboard small yacht. Most were killed or captured, but Castro and a small group escaped into the eastern mountains to establish stronghold and seized power when dictator Fulgencio Batista fled on Jan. 1, 1959.
After the revolution: Emerged as head of government and quickly gained nearly absolute power. Cuba was declared socialist state in April 1961, on eve of disastrous U.S.-backed Bay of Pigs invasion by Cuban exiles. United States cut all trade as island allied with Soviet Union, leading to October 1962 missile crisis that brought world to brink of nuclear war. Cuba remained alienated from United States after communism collapsed in eastern Europe.
Family: Married Mirta Diaz-Balart in 1948; son, Fidel Felix Castro Diaz-Balart, in 1949; divorced in 1955. Castro reportedly wed former schoolteacher Dalia Soto del Valle and had five sons, plus other children out of wedlock.
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