Dick Cheney, who has died at the age of 84, had a glittering - if controversial - career in American public life.

He served as President Gerald Ford's White House chief of staff in the 1970s, before spending a decade in the House of Representatives.

President George H W Bush made him defence secretary during the first Gulf War and the US invasion of Panama.

In 2001, Cheney became one of the most powerful vice-presidents in history.

He was a key architect of President George W Bush's 'War on Terror' after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and an early advocate of the invasion of Iraq.

But, in his final years, he became a bitter critic of the Republican party under the leadership of President Donald Trump.

In our nation's 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic, Cheney said.

Richard Bruce Cheney was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on 30 January 1941. His father worked for the US Department of Agriculture, while his mother had been a successful softball player in the 1930s. In 1959, Cheney entered Yale on a scholarship but did not graduate.

In his early 20s, Cheney was twice convicted of drink driving, moments that he acknowledged shaped his future direction.

Cheney's first taste of Washington came in 1968 when he worked for William Steiger, a young Republican representative from Wisconsin. He caught the eye of Donald Rumsfeld, who mentored him throughout his career.

After serving in various significant roles, including being chief of staff and later defense secretary, Cheney was integral to U.S. military engagements, notably during the Gulf War.

His tenure as vice-president was dominated by the response to 9/11, pushing for military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the implementation of controversial interrogation techniques.

Post-vice presidency, he remained a polarizing figure, sharply opposing Obama’s national security policies and later turning against Trump, making a historical pivot from conservative stances by endorsing LGBTQ rights.

Cheney's complex legacy straddles honor and controversy, reflecting deep divides in American political history, particularly concerning military engagement and civil rights.