August 25th, 1944:Conrad Moffat Black is born in Montreal, Canada, into a wealthy brewing family. At 14, he is expelled from a prestigious Toronto school for stealing and selling exams. He later earns a law degree and a master's in history.

1967 -Black buys a half interest in two Quebec weeklies for C$500. In 1969, he and former partner David Radler buy the Sherbrooke Record, his first daily newspaper, in Quebec.

1985 -Black buys stake in London's Daily Telegraph. In 1989, buys controlling interest in Jerusalem Post and in 1998 he publishes the National Post.

1999 -Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien blocks Black from joining Britain's House of Lords. In 2001, Black renounces Canadian citizenship and becomes Lord Black of Crossharbour. Last year he said he wanted to become a Canadian again.

November 17th, 2003 -Investigation by Hollinger finds unauthorised payments to executives and Black resigns as chief executive, then is ousted as chairman.

June 2004 -Black (pictured with wife Barbara Amiel) loses court battle to Hollinger over sale to British billionaire brothers David and Frederick Barclay, who buy the Telegraph Group.

August 2004 -Hollinger reports that Black oversaw a "corporate kleptocracy" that looted the publisher of hundreds of millions of dollars. Company's suit against Black and others seeks $542 million.

April 2005 -Black and Radler resign from holding company Ravelston, which wins bankruptcy protection in Canada. Ravelston pleads guilty and agrees to pay a $7 million fine.

August 18th, 2005 -Fraud charges announced against Black, Radler, attorney Mark Kipnis and Ravelston. Racketeering, money laundering and obstruction of justice charges added later. Black and Kipnis plead not guilty.

September 20th, 2005 -Radler pleads guilty in deal with prosecutors and agrees to testify against Black in exchange for 29-month prison sentence.

July 13th, 2007 -Black found guilty on multiple criminal charges, including fraud. - (Reuters)