Life of Barack Obama

Barack Obama rides a tricycle in the 1960s in Hawaii Photograph: Obama for America/AP

Barack Obama's father, also named Barack Obama, and mother, Stanley Ann Dunham (her father always wanted a son). Obama's father left the family to study at Harvard University when Barack was just two. This visit, when Obama was 10, was the last time he saw his father. By then Ann had remarried Photograph: Obama for America/AP

Barack Obama and his father Photograph: Obama for America/AP

January 12 2008, Kogelo, Kenya: Family portraits, including one of Barack Obama's father, hang in his family house Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty

Barack Obama in a group photograph in Jakarta. When he was six years old Obama moved to Indonesia after his divorced mother remarried an Indonesian foreign student, Lolo Soetoro Photograph: AFP

Barack Obama with his maternal grandparents, Stanley and Madelyn Dunham Photograph: Obama for America/Reuters

Barack Obama in a 1978 senior yearbook photo at the Punahou school in Honolulu, Hawaii Photograph: Punahoe Schools/AP

1979, Hawaii: Barack Obama playing basketball at Punahou school Photograph: Obama for America/EPA

February 7 1990: Barack Obama when elected as president of Harvard Law Review Photograph: Steve Liss/Time Life Pictures/Getty

July 22 2004: Barack Obama teaching at the University of Chicago law school. Obama arrived in Chicago in 1985 with a college degree, a map of the city and a new job as a community organiser, only to move on a few years later to Harvard law school. When he returned to Chicago, he joined a small civil rights firm, ran a voter registration drive, and lectured on constitutional law at the University of Chicago law school Photograph: Obama for America/AP

July 27 2004, Boston, US: Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, wave to delegates after he delivered his keynote address to the Democratic National Convention Photograph: Charlie Neibergall/AP

December 8 2004, Chicago, US: Barack and Michelle Obama at home Photograph: Charles Ommanney/Getty

November 2 2004, Chicago, US: Barack Obama, holding his daughter Malia, and his wife, Michelle, holding their daughter Sasha, are covered in confetti after Obama delivered his acceptance speech. Obama, only the fifth black US senator to be elected in history, defeated the Republican Alan Keyes in the nation's first senate race with two black major-party candidates Photograph: M Spencer Green/AP

January 15 2007, Harvery, US: Barack Obama signs autographs after speaking at the Dr Martin Luther King Jr birthday celebration at St Mark cathedral Photograph: Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

February 10 2007, Springfield, US: Supporters hold pictures of Barack Obama during a rally in front of the historic State Capitol building Photograph: Mark Wilson/Getty

February 11 2007, Chicago, US: Barack Obama greets supporters gathered for a campaign rally at the University of Illinois Photograph: Scott Olson/Getty

January 8 2008, Nashua: A supporter of Barack Obama holds up a magazine cover at a primary night rally Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty

January 29 2008, US: Barack Obama talks with reporters during a flight from Washington to Wichita Photograph: Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

June 27 2008, Unity, US: Barack Obama and former rival Hillary Clinton wave to the crowd Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty

August 23 2008, Springfield, US: Barack Obama introduces Joe Biden as his choice for vice-president Photograph: Tannen Maury/EPA

October 6 2008, San Diego, US: The comic book biographies of Barack Obama and John McCain Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters