Kenneth Harry Clarke was born on 2 July 1940 in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire. Here he is photographed in the House of Commons on 17 July 2014. Photograph: Antonio Olmos for the Observer

While at Cambridge University, Clarke became politically active and joined the Conservative Party. In 1964 he married Gillian Edwards and this photograph was taken on his wedding day. L to R: Peter Fullerton, Michael Howard, John Gummer, Clarke, Leon Brittan, Christopher Mason and Norman Lamont.

In June 1970, at the age of 29, he became MP for the East Midlands constituency of Rushcliffe. In 1972 he was appointed a government whip, and served as such until 1974, when this portrait was taken. Photograph: Estate Of Keith Morris/Redferns

In 1988, despite his love of beer and cigars, Clarke was appointed health secretary. He took on the consultants as he tried to shake up the NHS and its vested interests. He was not popular with these nurses photographed at Heathrow on 14 August 1988. Photograph: David Parker/Getty Images

His love of political battles was matched outside the Commons by his love of ornithology and jazz. Photograph: Ian Bradshaw/Rex Features

Clarke was against Margaret Thatcher's appointment in 1975. In 1990, when this photograph was taken, Clarke, then education secretary, was the first minister to tell Thatcher that she should resign. In her memoirs she said of the conversation: 'His manner was robust in the brutalist style he has cultivated: the candid friend'. Photograph PA Archive

He was a key figure in the Tory team which won the 1992 general election (here he is campaigning in Nottingham). Afterwards he was appointed as home secretary. Photograph: Richard Rayner

In May 1993, Clarke was appointed as chancellor, and later that year at the party conference in Blackpool, he defended Major from his critics by announcing: 'Any enemy of John Major is an enemy of mine'.Photograph: Malcolm Gilson/Rex Features

A classic shot with the chancellor's red box from November 1995. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

The 1995 budget saw Clarke entertain the opposition benches by having a wee dram while announcing that spirits were to go down in price by 4%, the equivalent of 27p on a bottle of whisky. Photograph: PA Archive

As chancellor he was involved in planning the euro but still liked to intimidate his counterparts in Brussels. Here, Dutch Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm feels the force in 1997. Photograph: Benoit Doppagne/Reuters

After Labour's Tony Blair came to power, Clarke fought with and lost to William Hague for leadership of the Conservative party, a man he had helped to win the 1989 Richmond byelection in North Yorkshire. Here they are chatting to pensioner Bill Capps in the town of Northallerton. Photograph: John Giles/PA

Clarke, pictured here in Kent with his beloved Gillian, tried again for the leadership in 2001, only to be defeated by Iain Duncan Smith. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

His final throw of the leadership dice came in 2005. David Cameron won. Photograph: Bruce Adams/Rex Features

In May 2010, he was appointed justice secretary and lord chancellor. Photograph: Rex Features

Now, having declared after a lengthy ministerial innings, Clarke can indulge another passion, watching cricket. Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Put his famous Hush Puppied feet up and agitate from the back benches. Photograph: Rex Features