John Hume's political career: From forming the SDLP to winning the Nobel Peace Prize

Nobel Laureate and former SDLP Leader John Hume passed away on Monday
Mr Hume had been suffering from dementia for many years prior to his death
David Child3 August 2020

John Hume, Nothern Ireland's Nobel Peace Prize-winning political titan, has died at the age of 83.

Mr Hume, who was handed the Nobel award for his efforts in helping forge peace in Northern Ireland via the Good Friday Agreement, had suffered ill health for a number of years.

His death on Monday at Owen Mor nursing home in Londonderry marked the end of a towering career and prompted tributes from across the political spectrum.

Here are some of the key moments that marked Mr Hume's life, and his most notable achievements:

Mr Hume's political career started in 1969, when he was elected as an independent nationalist MP at Stormont at the age of 32 
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January 18 1937

John Hume is born in Londonderry. He is educated at St Columb’s College and St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, before going on to become a teacher.

1968

Mr Hume emerges as one of the leading members of the civil rights movement as the Derry Citizens’ Action Committee (DCAC) stage a number of marches, advocating strictly peaceful demonstrations.

1969

Mr Hume’s political career begins when he is elected at the age of 32 as an independent nationalist MP at Stormont.

August 1970

Mr Hume becomes a founding member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).

1979

Mr Hume becomes leader of the SDLP.

1980s

Mr Hume becomes directly involved in secret talks between the UK government and Sinn Fein.

June 10 1983

Mr Hume is elected to Westminster for the new Foyle constituency.

November 15 1985

The Anglo-Irish Agreement is signed.

1988

Mr Hume begins a series of contacts with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, which was to prove crucial in developing the peace process.

1997

The IRA announced the renewal of its 1994 ceasefire. Multi-party talks begin at which Mr Hume and the SDLP play a significant role as the then second biggest party behind the UUP.

1998

Parties sign the Good Friday Agreement and a powersharing government is formed at Stormont. The agreement helped to bring to an end a period of conflict between Republicans and Loyalists in the region called the Troubles. Mr Hume wins the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with UUP leader David Trimble.

Mr Hume was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with UUP leader David Trimble in 1998
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2004

Mr Hume retires from politics due to ill-health.

2010

Mr Hume is voted as “Ireland’s Greatest” in a public poll by RTE.

2012

Pope Benedict XVI names him a Knight Commander of the Papal Order of St Gregory the Great.

2018

Mr Hume is too ill to attend a ceremony at Queen’s University in Belfast to mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

2020

He dies aged 83.