Public figures across Scotland and the United Kingdom have paid tribute to the former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who died Saturday at the age of 69. Salmond, a leading figure in the Scottish independence movement,

Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland who for decades championed Scotland’s independence from the U.K., has died.

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.