Colleagues, friends and political adversaries have paid tribute to former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy after his sudden death aged 55.
David Cameron said politics had lost a man of "immense ability", while Nick Clegg said his opposition to the Iraq war had been "enormously courageous".
Mr Kennedy, who led his party for over six years, took it to its best election result in 2005 but battled alcoholism.
No cause of death has been given but police said it was not suspicious.
Mr Kennedy, who lost his seat in last month's election, died at his home in Fort William on Monday. His family said they were devastated to lose a "fine man and loving father".
Under Mr Kennedy's leadership, the Lib Dems won a record 62 seats in 2005 but he resigned eight months after the election after revealing he had been receiving treatment for a long-standing drink problem.
'He left his mark on politics'
By Nick Robinson, BBC political editor
Charles Kennedy left a mark on British politics. The man who took his party to its electoral peak, he was the only UK party leader to warn the country of the perils of invading Iraq when Labour and the Conservatives were uniting to support it.
He was also the only Liberal Democrat MP who could not bring himself to vote to form a coalition with the Conservatives.
But British politics also left its mark on him. Elected at the age of just 23, politics and the House of Commons became his life whilst alcohol was his friend, his prop and his curse.
Read Nick's thoughts
Read Norman Smith's reflections
Kennedy's life in pictures
Charles Kennedy in his own words
Mr Clegg, who will step down as Lib Dem leader next month, said that on a good day Mr Kennedy had "more political talent in his little finger than the rest of us put together".
"Charles devoted his life to public service, yet he had an unusual gift for speaking about politics with humour and humility which touched people well beyond the world of politics," he said.
"He was one of the most gentle and unflappable politicians I have ever known, yet he was immensely courageous too not least when he spoke for the country against the invasion of Iraq."
Charles Kennedy in 2001 celebrating the best general election result for any third party at the time since 1923
He also opposed Nick Clegg's decision to go into coalition with the Conservatives
Mr Kennedy's family said in a statement: "It is with great sadness, and an enormous sense of shock, that we announce the death of Charles Kennedy.
"We are obviously devastated at the loss. Charles was a fine man, a talented politician, and a loving father to his young son."
A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police officers attended an address at Fort William on Monday, June 1 to reports of the sudden death of a 55-year-old man. Police were notified by ambulance service personnel. There are no suspicious circumstances."
Mr Kennedy's political career began in the Social Democratic Party and he became the youngest MP of the time at the age of 23 when he won the Ross, Cromarty and Skye seat in 1983.
At first he was SDP spokesman on social security, Scotland and health and when most of his party merged with the Liberals to form the Lib Dems in 1988, he continued to hold a series of frontbench posts.
He took over the Liberal Democrat leadership from Paddy Ashdown in 1999.
'Chatshow Charlie'
During the 1990s, Mr Kennedy had built up his profile through a series of TV appearances, earning him the nickname, which he hated, of "Chatshow Charlie".
In his early days, Mr Kennedy was Social Democratic Party spokesman on social security, Scotland and health
The former Lib Dem leader appeared as a regular guest on satirical news programme Have I Got News for You
His 2002 marriage to Camelot public relations executive Sarah Gurling was seen by many in the party as a sign he was settling down.
The birth of his son in 2005 was seen as a further sign that the hard-partying Kennedy - one commentator had dubbed him "Jock the lad" - was be
David Cameron said politics had lost a man of "immense ability", while Nick Clegg said his opposition to the Iraq war had been "enormously courageous".
Mr Kennedy, who led his party for over six years, took it to its best election result in 2005 but battled alcoholism.
No cause of death has been given but police said it was not suspicious.
Mr Kennedy, who lost his seat in last month's election, died at his home in Fort William on Monday. His family said they were devastated to lose a "fine man and loving father".
Under Mr Kennedy's leadership, the Lib Dems won a record 62 seats in 2005 but he resigned eight months after the election after revealing he had been receiving treatment for a long-standing drink problem.
'He left his mark on politics'
By Nick Robinson, BBC political editor
Charles Kennedy left a mark on British politics. The man who took his party to its electoral peak, he was the only UK party leader to warn the country of the perils of invading Iraq when Labour and the Conservatives were uniting to support it.
He was also the only Liberal Democrat MP who could not bring himself to vote to form a coalition with the Conservatives.
But British politics also left its mark on him. Elected at the age of just 23, politics and the House of Commons became his life whilst alcohol was his friend, his prop and his curse.
Read Nick's thoughts
Read Norman Smith's reflections
Kennedy's life in pictures
Charles Kennedy in his own words
Mr Clegg, who will step down as Lib Dem leader next month, said that on a good day Mr Kennedy had "more political talent in his little finger than the rest of us put together".
"Charles devoted his life to public service, yet he had an unusual gift for speaking about politics with humour and humility which touched people well beyond the world of politics," he said.
"He was one of the most gentle and unflappable politicians I have ever known, yet he was immensely courageous too not least when he spoke for the country against the invasion of Iraq."
Charles Kennedy in 2001 celebrating the best general election result for any third party at the time since 1923
He also opposed Nick Clegg's decision to go into coalition with the Conservatives
Mr Kennedy's family said in a statement: "It is with great sadness, and an enormous sense of shock, that we announce the death of Charles Kennedy.
"We are obviously devastated at the loss. Charles was a fine man, a talented politician, and a loving father to his young son."
A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police officers attended an address at Fort William on Monday, June 1 to reports of the sudden death of a 55-year-old man. Police were notified by ambulance service personnel. There are no suspicious circumstances."
Mr Kennedy's political career began in the Social Democratic Party and he became the youngest MP of the time at the age of 23 when he won the Ross, Cromarty and Skye seat in 1983.
At first he was SDP spokesman on social security, Scotland and health and when most of his party merged with the Liberals to form the Lib Dems in 1988, he continued to hold a series of frontbench posts.
He took over the Liberal Democrat leadership from Paddy Ashdown in 1999.
'Chatshow Charlie'
During the 1990s, Mr Kennedy had built up his profile through a series of TV appearances, earning him the nickname, which he hated, of "Chatshow Charlie".
In his early days, Mr Kennedy was Social Democratic Party spokesman on social security, Scotland and health
The former Lib Dem leader appeared as a regular guest on satirical news programme Have I Got News for You
His 2002 marriage to Camelot public relations executive Sarah Gurling was seen by many in the party as a sign he was settling down.
The birth of his son in 2005 was seen as a further sign that the hard-partying Kennedy - one commentator had dubbed him "Jock the lad" - was be
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