Colin Powell, the former US Secretary of State, died of Covid-19 complications at the age of 84, according to his family.
He was a former senior military officer who rose through the ranks to become Republican George W Bush’s first African-American Secretary of State in 2001.
According to a statement, “we have lost a magnificent and loving husband, father, grandfather, and a great American.”
“We want to express our gratitude to the medical professionals… for their compassionate care,” the statement continued.
He had been completely vaccinated against Covid, according to the statement.
Mr Powell grew to be a trusted military adviser to a number of powerful US officials.
He also served in Vietnam and was injured, an experience that would later shape his own military policy.
