Alex Salmond served as first minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014 and was leader of the Scottish National Party on two occasions.

Scottish political giant and former First Minister Alex Salmond, hailed as the founder of the modern Scottish independence movement, has died at age 69, authorities announced Saturday.

Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has died at 69, according to statements from Scotland’s main political parties and UK media reports.

Alex Salmond, who turned his Scottish National Party’s dream of power into reality even though he didn’t see his vision of an independent country come true, has died. He was 69.

The "shock of Alex Salmond's death is reverberating around every corner of UK politics", said Sky News. A "Marmite figure", Salmond certainly "divided opinion", but he was "respected as the giant who was instrumental in delivering the 2014 Scottish independence referendum".

Read our full range of politics picks here. The unexpected death of Alex Salmond (Scottish First Minister, 2007-14) has prompted debate on the state of the Scottish National party, which he led for a total of two decades.

One of the most consequential – and divisive – politicians of his generation, Alex Salmond, who has died aged 69, transformed the Scottish National Party from a fringe party into a "formidable political force".