Paddy Ashdown, the former leader of Britain's Liberal Democrats who served as the international high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, died Saturday at the age of 77, his party announced. He made an "immeasurable contribution to furthering the cause of liberalism" and will be "desperately missed", the Lib Dems said in a statement.
Ashdown, a former special forces officer, led the centrist Liberal Democrats in opposition from 1988 until 1999, reviving their fortunes after years in the wilderness. He served as the international high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2002 to 2006. He revealed in November that he was being treated for bladder cancer.
"I have the best of people and the best of friends to fight this with, which makes me, as so often in my life, very lucky," Ashdown said. Current Lib Dem leader Vince Cable said it was a "hugely sad day" in British politics and paid tribute to Ashdown's talents beyond the political arena, including as an author, a marine and in the diplomatic service.
Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May said she learned of his death with "great sadness" and praised his service to Britain and the international community. "He dedicated his life to public service and he will be sorely missed," she said. For nearly four years Ashdown served as the de facto leader of Bosnia, earning a reputation as a no-nonsense implementor of tough measures to help the country recover from its 1992-1995 war.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, leader of the world's Anglicans, said Ashdown was "an advocate for those others forgot. "He served the people of the Balkans with passion and inspiration, an agent of reconciliation."
Ashdown also campaigned for Britain to stay in the European Union in the 2016 referendum and, after losing, founded a cross-party centrist movement called "More United". He was knighted under his real name of Jeremy in 2000 and was made a member of parliament's upper House of Lords. He was married with two children and lived in Yeovil, southwest England, which he represented in the lower House of Commons.