Charles Kennedy was born in Inverness and raised in a crofter’s cottage near Fort William.
He was educated at Lochaber High School and his second year history teacher recalled that you knew that the lesson was not going well when his eyes glazed over but when his eyes sparkled, the class was going well.
He joined the Labour Party at 15 and was a debating champion at Glasgow University, which he represented as rector for two terms.
A former Fullbright scolar who studied at Indiana University in the United States, rivals accused him of laziness and one dubbed him “inaction man” compared with his ex-marine predecessor Paddy Ashdown.
When he was 39 he was elected party leader and was the most successful one for 80 years until he lost his seat in the 2015 general election.
Last night, he died suddenly at his home in Fort William.
1983: Elected as MP for Ross, Cromarty and Skye
At 23-years-old he was the UK’s youngest MP.
1990: Elected Lib Dem president
He became leader of the party nine years later.
1990s: Mr Kennedy built his profile through TV appearances
This earned him the nickname – which he hated – of “Chatshow Charlie”.
1994: Accused of not taking politics seriously in 1994 when he won £2,000 from a £50 bet on election results
He waged the Liberal Democrats would take only two seats in the European elections.
1999: Elected Lib Dem leader, succeeding Paddy Ashdown
As soon as he became leader, Mr Kennedy set about splitting from Labour.
2002: Married Camelot public relations executive Sarah Gurling
Three years later they had a son called Donald.
December 2002: Plaudits for TV appearance
He hosted the BBC1 satirical news quiz Have I Got News For You.
May 2005: The Lib Dem’s biggest ever election win
The party won 62 seats.
2010: Announces separation from wife Sarah
They had been married for seven years.
May 2010: Re-elected with a 13,070 majority
He remained in the seat until 2015.
May 2015: Loses his seat in the UK general election
He died less than a month later.