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A semicolon is used to separate two parts of a sentence that need a firmer break than a comma would provide, but that are too closely connected to be made into separate sentences. The semicolon has 4 basic uses: (1) to unite closely connected sentences; (2) to separate coordinate clauses in complex sentences; (3) a series when there is an element in the series that has an internal comma; and (4) to make the reader pause a bit longer than a comma would.
For detailed information, see Garner's Modern American Usage (2009) p. 681, or The Gregg Reference Manual 10th ed (2005) para 176 et seq.
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