John Hume: Life in pictures

Austin Currie, Gerry Fitt, John Hume and Paddy DevlinPA

John Hume (middle right) pictured in 1973 with three other founding members of the SDLP: Austin Currie, Gerry Fitt and Paddy Devlin

John Hume with his wife Pat after his election to the European Parliament in 1979Pacemaker

John Hume with his wife Pat after his election to the European Parliament in 1979

John Hume pictured in 1985Pacemaker

As leader of the SDLP, John Hume helped create the climate that brought an end to violence in Northern Ireland.

John Hume, Ian Paisley, Martin Smyth and John Alderdice announce preliminary talks in 1991Pacemaker

SDLP leader John Hume, DUP leader Ian Paisley, UUP MP Martin Smyth and Alliance Party leader John Alderdice announce preliminary talks in 1991

Gerry Adams and John Hume in studio before a BBC Radio 4 interview in 1992Pacemaker

Despite enormous criticism, John Hume always defended his decision to talk to Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams in order to build the peace process.

John Hume and Ian Paisley on Rathlin Island in 1992 when wind turbines were first installed to generate electricity for the islandPacemaker

John Hume and Ian Paisley on Rathlin Island in 1992 when wind turbines were first installed to generate electricity for the island

Senator Edward Kennedy with John Hume during a visit to the Bogside in Londonderry in 1998Pacemaker

John Hume cultivated relationships with the White house and US Congress. Here he is with US Senator Edward Kennedy during a visit to Londonderry in 1998

David Trimble, Tony Blair and John HumePacemaker

John Hume pictured with David Trimble and Tony Blair in the lead up to the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement

John Hume during the announcement of the results of the 1999 European election, in which he came a close second in the poll to Ian PaisleyPacemaker

John Hume held his seat in the European Parliament for 25 years. Here he is during the announcement of the results of the 1999 European election, in which he came a close second in the poll to Ian Paisley

John Hume after announcing he was quitting as leader of the SDLP in 2001Pacemaker

John Hume stood down as leader of the SDLP in 2001, and retired from politics in 2004

John Hume gives a thumbs up during the Northern Ireland Belfast Agreement referendum, 21st May 1998Getty Images

John Hume never lost the conviction that negotiations would in the end provide the solution. In 1998 he saw the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

Peter Robinson, Martin McGuinness, Bill Clinton and John Hume pictured in Londonderry in 2010 after the former US president visited Magee CollegePacemaker

Former US President Bill Clinton returned to Derry in 2010, 15 years after his first visit.

John Hume with Gerry Adams during a march in Derry before the release of the findings of the Saville Inquiry into Bloody SundayPacemaker

John Hume with Gerry Adams during a march in Derry before the release of the findings of the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday

John Hume pictured at home in 2000Pacemaker

John Hume, pictured at home in 2000, consistently opposed violence on all sides throughout the Troubles