• 1928: Born to Russian immigrants in the farming community of Kfar Malal north of Tel Aviv on Feb. 26.

• 1948: After fighting in a Jewish militia opposed to British control, serves with distinction in Israel’s war of independence with Arab states.

• 1953:Heads Unit 101, a force carrying out reprisals for slaying of Israeli woman and her two children. In October, Sharon’s troops blow up more than 40 houses in Qibya, a village in the West Bank, then ruled by Jordan.

• 1967:Receives broad praise for his command of an armored division in the Mideast War, in which Israel captures the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula.

• 1971:Placed in charge of curbing terrorism in Gaza Strip.

• 1973:Commands drive by Israeli troops across the Suez Canal into Egypt during Mideast war.

• December 1973:Elected to Knesset on Likud ticket.

• 1974:Resigns from Knesset.

• 1975:Premier Yitzhak Rabin appoints him to the post of special adviser security affairs.

• 1977-81:Minister of Agriculture under Menachem Begin.

• 1970s, 80s, early 90s:As government minister, leads push to build dozens of Jewish settlements in West Bank and Gaza Strip, despite Palestinian and international protest.

• 1982:As defense minister (1981-83), engineers Israel’s invasion of Lebanon.

• 2000:Sharon visits the disputed Temple Mount Sept. 28 to emphasize Israel’s claim of sovereignty. Muslims, who call the site the Noble Sanctuary, are outraged, and widespread violence breaks out a day later. The bloodshed sparks a political crisis in Israel, leading to Barak’s resignation. Sharon wins a landslide victory over Barak in Feb. 6, 2001, election for prime minister.

• 2003:Sharon wins early elections he was forced to call and remains prime minister. Later that year, Sharon begins construction of Israel’s separation barrier along and in the West Bank.

• Feb. 8, 2005:At a summit in Sharm-el-Sheik Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announce a cease-fire.

• Aug. 17, 2005:Israel begins unilateral withdrawal from Gaza and part of the West Bank.

• November 2005:Amid growing dissent within the Likud Party over the withdrawal from Gaza, Sharon leaves the party.