01of 16John McCain’s Early YearsREX/ShutterstockBorn in the Panama Canal Zone on Aug. 29, 1936, John Sidney McCain III was the first son and second child of John S. McCain Jr. and Roberta McCain. McCain’s father was a Naval officer, so the family moved around quite a bit throughout his childhood — when he attend 20 schools in total, according toUSA Today.He eventuallygraduated from high school in Northern Virginia.

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John McCain’s Early Years

REX/Shutterstock

Senator John McCain family portraits, America

Born in the Panama Canal Zone on Aug. 29, 1936, John Sidney McCain III was the first son and second child of John S. McCain Jr. and Roberta McCain. McCain’s father was a Naval officer, so the family moved around quite a bit throughout his childhood — when he attend 20 schools in total, according toUSA Today.He eventuallygraduated from high school in Northern Virginia.

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John McCain at the Naval Academy

Everett Collection

Lieutenant Commander John S. McCain, (front, right) with his squadron. ca. 1967

03of 16John McCain and Wife Carol SheppCarol and John McCain.APIn 1965, McCain married his first wife, Carol Shepp, a model from Philadelphia. He adopted her two sons, Douglas and Andrew. The next year, they welcomed a daughter,Sidney, according toABC News.

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John McCain and Wife Carol Shepp

Carol and John McCain.AP

MCCAIN

In 1965, McCain married his first wife, Carol Shepp, a model from Philadelphia. He adopted her two sons, Douglas and Andrew. The next year, they welcomed a daughter,Sidney, according toABC News.

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John McCain as a POW

CBS/AP

MCCAIN AS POW

05of 16John McCain Returns HomeAPDuring his five and a half years as a prisoner of war, McCain spent two years in solitary confinement, was beaten multiple times a day, every day, and subjected to other forms of torture. After his father was promoted to commander of the U.S. forces in Vietnam, McCain was offered early release, but he turned it down, not wanting to be freed until his fellow prisoners got the same offer. He was eventually released on March 14, 1973, and was welcomed home as a hero,according toThe Washington Post.

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John McCain Returns Home

AP

MCCAIN

During his five and a half years as a prisoner of war, McCain spent two years in solitary confinement, was beaten multiple times a day, every day, and subjected to other forms of torture. After his father was promoted to commander of the U.S. forces in Vietnam, McCain was offered early release, but he turned it down, not wanting to be freed until his fellow prisoners got the same offer. He was eventually released on March 14, 1973, and was welcomed home as a hero,according toThe Washington Post.

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John McCain’s First Foray Into Politics

Brich/AP

REAGAN LANDON RUTTLIEDGE MCCAIN

07of 16John McCain and Wife Cindy McCainKen Akers/The Arizaona Republic/APHe met his second wife, Cindy, in 1979 while he was still married to his first wife, Carol. McCain and Carol divorced in April 1980, and he married Cindy the next month. There were tensions with his children at first, who didn’t attend his second wedding, but they eventually reconciled,The New York Timesreported.

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John McCain and Wife Cindy McCain

Ken Akers/The Arizaona Republic/AP

John McCain, Cindy McCain, John Rhodes

He met his second wife, Cindy, in 1979 while he was still married to his first wife, Carol. McCain and Carol divorced in April 1980, and he married Cindy the next month. There were tensions with his children at first, who didn’t attend his second wedding, but they eventually reconciled,The New York Timesreported.

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John McCain Is Elected to the House of Representatives

Tom Tingle/Phoenix Gazette/AP

John McCain

09of 16John McCain Is Elected to the SenateRon Edmonds/APWhen Barry Goldwater, a longtime U.S. senator from Arizona, retired, McCain saw his opportunity, and ran for the seat. He easily nabbed the Republican nomination, and then won the seat, defeating his opponent, former Arizona State Senator Richard Kimball, 60 to 40 percent, accordingtoThe Arizona Republic.

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John McCain Is Elected to the Senate

Ron Edmonds/AP

Republican National Convention 1988

When Barry Goldwater, a longtime U.S. senator from Arizona, retired, McCain saw his opportunity, and ran for the seat. He easily nabbed the Republican nomination, and then won the seat, defeating his opponent, former Arizona State Senator Richard Kimball, 60 to 40 percent, accordingtoThe Arizona Republic.

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John McCain’s Growing Family

MCCAIN

11of 16John McCain’s InfluenceRuth Fremson/APAs his career continued, McCain became a popular senator who gained national attention. In 1997, he was named toTIME’s list of the “25 Most Influential Americans.”

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John McCain’s Influence

Ruth Fremson/AP

REAGAN MCCAIN LOTT

As his career continued, McCain became a popular senator who gained national attention. In 1997, he was named toTIME’s list of the “25 Most Influential Americans.”

12of 16John McCain’s First Cancer DiagnosisEric Draper/APThat popularity paved the way for his first presidential run in 2000. Though he won the New Hampshire primary and gained momentum throughout the primary season, he lost nine of thirteen Super Tuesday primaries and ended up withdrawing from the race in March. (George W. Bush went on to win the nomination and the presidency.) McCain continued working in the Senate, and in 2006, was diagnosed with melanoma, which he recovered from, according toABC News.

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John McCain’s First Cancer Diagnosis

Eric Draper/AP

BUSH MCCAIN

That popularity paved the way for his first presidential run in 2000. Though he won the New Hampshire primary and gained momentum throughout the primary season, he lost nine of thirteen Super Tuesday primaries and ended up withdrawing from the race in March. (George W. Bush went on to win the nomination and the presidency.) McCain continued working in the Senate, and in 2006, was diagnosed with melanoma, which he recovered from, according toABC News.

13of 16John McCain Runs for PresidentFrom left: Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential campaign.Kiichiro Sato/APThe 2000 campaign wasn’t McCain’s last time running for president. He ran again in 2008, and this time secured the Republican nomination early on in the race, on March 4,according to CNN. Sarah Palin, then the governor of Alaska,was announcedas his running mate in August. He lost the general election against PresidentBarack Obama,winning 173 electoral votesto Obama’s 365, and 46 percent of the popular vote, compared to 53 percent for Obama, according to CNN.

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John McCain Runs for President

From left: Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential campaign.Kiichiro Sato/AP

John McCain,Sarah Palin

The 2000 campaign wasn’t McCain’s last time running for president. He ran again in 2008, and this time secured the Republican nomination early on in the race, on March 4,according to CNN. Sarah Palin, then the governor of Alaska,was announcedas his running mate in August. He lost the general election against PresidentBarack Obama,winning 173 electoral votesto Obama’s 365, and 46 percent of the popular vote, compared to 53 percent for Obama, according to CNN.

14of 16John McCain Continues in the SenateRoss D. Franklin/APHe was elected to the Senate for his sixth consecutive term in November 2016.

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John McCain Continues in the Senate

Ross D. Franklin/AP

2016 Election Senate McCain

He was elected to the Senate for his sixth consecutive term in November 2016.

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John McCain Is Diagnosed with Brain Cancer

Ron Rakun/Pacific Press/Sipa/AP

John McCain US Senator visits Slovenia

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John McCain’s Final Days

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Though he did return to the Senate floor days after announcing his diagnosis, he spent much of his final year in treatment and at home in Arizonabefore his deathon Aug. 25, 2018.

In an interview with PEOPLEmonths prior, McCain called himself “the luckiest guy that ever lived. In other words, I have been so fortunate to have the full life that I have had full of time and adventure and excitement.”

source: people.com