Former Liberal Democrat Paddy Ashdown Dead at 77

Former Liberal Democrat Paddy Ashdown passed away after a short illness late Saturday, but not before firing off one last shot to under-fire British Prime Minister Theresa May.

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Lord Ashdown had been battling bladder cancer since October of this year, but was active on social media up-until Nov.26 when he heavily criticized PM May's desperate attempt to obtain support from her cabinet.

Comparing May to an orphan, Ashdown tore into the Conservative party, calling them "revivifying vipers."

Lord Ashdown, himself, courted controversy in 1992 when he revealed he had a five-month affair with his secretary. Dubbed "Paddy Pantsdown" by the U.K. publication The Sun, his marriage to his wife Jane survived the scandal, and he continued to serve as leader of the Lib Dem's until 1999, and was knighted shortly after. 

Lord Ashdown was MP for Yeovil between 1983-2001, and also served in the Special Boat Service during his time in the Royal Marines.

His replacement, Sir Nick Clegg, who would as leader take the Liberal Democrats into government in 2010, said, "Paddy was the reason I entered politics. He was the reason I became a liberal. And he became a lifelong mentor, friend and guide. Much will, rightly, be said about him in the days ahead. He was a soldier, a diplomat, a writer, a leader, a campaigner, a servant of his constituents, and an international statesman," Clegg told The Mirror.  

Talking to The Sun, former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major said he was a "a man of duty, passion, and devotion to the country he loved - right up to the very end."

"In Government, Paddy Ashdown was my opponent. In life, he was a much-valued friend," said Sir John.

"His loss will be felt deeply by many - and not least by myself."