John the Baptist

Born: Circa 5 BC in the region of Judea within the Roman province of the same name. 
Died: 30 AD by way of beheading in Judea (the Province.)

Father: Zachariah 
Mother: Elizabeth 

Ethnicity: Jewish (of the tribe of Levi) 
Job: Preacher

John the Baptist was born just six months before his cousin Jesus of Nazareth was born. His father Zachariah was of the tribe of Levi and served as a priest at the Temple in Jerusalem. While serving he had a vision of an angel who identified as Gabriel and who told him that his wife would have a son even though she was old.

The first reference to John comes before he's even born: his Aunt Mary had come to visit her sister. When Elizabeth heard her sister's greeting John leaps in his mother's womb.

Eight days after John was born there was debate regarding his naming. His relatives wanted to name him after his father but his mother wanted to use the name "John." Her relatives objected because, in their word: “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

The relatives made signs to the infant's father to find out his preferred name and everyone was astonished when he wrote down "His name is John.” After he wrote it he was able to speak again. 

As John grows up he decides to live in the wilderness. (Most likely in the Syrian desert to the west or the Negev to the south of his home.) 

It's about thirty years later when we hear about John again. He arrives by the Jordan river in eastern Judea. At this point he's very much use to his wilderness life style: He wears clothing made out of camel hair, he wore a leather belt and he had a diet of locusts and wild honey. John preached that people should repent be baptized. “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” He told people.

Crowds came to him from the Judean country side and Jerusalem. They were baptized and confessed their sins. John rebuked the crowd coming to him: 
You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
"What should we do then?” The crowd asked him
When tax collectors come to him and asks the same question, he tells them "Don’t collect any more than you are required to" 
Even a few soldiers come to John. "Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

Among those baptized was Jesus of Nazareth, Who, after seeing the Holy Spirit descending upon Him like a dove went out to the wilderness for over a month. 

John preached against Herod the Tetrarch for his marriage to his brother's wife and rebuked him for other sins. John was imprisoned for this. 

When is prison John sent his followers to Jesus with two questions: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" 

"Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor." Jesus replied. 

Some time later during Herod's birthday he promised his wife's daughter anything. Her mother whose name was Herodias told her to ask for John's head on a platter. Herod was hesitate to murder John because he was regarded as a Prophet, however knowing that his guests heard his promise he gave the command. 

John was decapitated and his followers buried his body. 

Jesus spoke extremely highly of John before he was beheaded:

"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a Prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: "'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

Timeline

Circa 5 BC: John is born


29-30 AD: John comes back from his wilderness living and begin preaching, rebuking and baptizing
31-32 AD: John is beheaded.

Sources on the life of John the Baptist:

Matthew 
Mark 
Luke 
John 
Antiques of the Jews (Book 18, chapter 5:2)