From POW to Political Powerhouse: Sen. John McCain's Life in Photos

John McCain's Early Years

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 to USA Today. He eventually graduated from high school in Northern Virginia.

John McCain at the Naval Academy

Following in his father's footsteps, McCain attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, according to the National Review. Although he performed well in subjects that interested him, he ended up at the bottom of his class, graduating in spot 894 out of 899 in 1958. He then went on to train as a Naval aviator and eventually was assigned to numerous aircraft carriers.

John McCain and Wife Carol Shepp

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 to ABC News.

John McCain as a POW

McCain, then a lieutenant commander in the Navy, was assigned to Operation Rolling Thunder during the Vietnam War. On Oct. 25, 1967, his plane was shot down over Hanoi. He was injured and nearly drowned, and then was brought ashore by North Vietnamese and taken prisoner, according to The Arizona Republic.

John McCain Returns Home

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 to The Washington Post.

John McCain's First Foray Into Politics

After returning home, McCain underwent physical therapy at the National War College at Fort McNair and resumed his Naval service by 1974. Foreshadowing his future role as a U.S. senator, he became the Senate liaison to the Navy in 1977. According to The Arizona Republic, McCain says that position was his "real entry into the world of politics and the beginning of my second career as a public servant."

John McCain and Wife Cindy McCain

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 Times reported.

John McCain Is Elected to the House of Representatives

McCain retired from the Navy in 1981, and in 1982, emboldened by Cindy's family fortunes (her father ran a beer wholesaler and distributor), McCain ran for the House of Representatives in his wife's home state of Arizona. Accused of not connecting with the people of Arizona and taking advantage of a political opportunity, he said: "Listen, pal. I spent 22 years in the Navy. My father was in the Navy. My grandfather was in the Navy. We in the military service tend to move a lot. We have to live in all parts of the country, all parts of the world. I wish I could have had the luxury, like you, of growing up and living and spending my entire life in a nice place like the First District of Arizona, but I was doing other things. As a matter of fact, when I think about it now, the place I lived longest in my life was Hanoi." He went on to win the Republican primary and later, the general election for the seat.

John McCain Is Elected to the Senate

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, according to The Arizona Republic.

John McCain's Growing Family

As his political career grew, so did his family. McCain and Cindy welcomed their first child, daughter Meghan, in 1984, and sons Jack and Jimmy came in 1988 and 1991. They welcomed daughter Bridget by adoption in 1993 from an orphange in Bangladesh, according to the New Republic.

John McCain's Influence

As his career continued, McCain became a popular senator who gained national attention. In 1997, he was named to TIME's list of the "25 Most Influential Americans."

John McCain's First Cancer Diagnosis

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 to ABC News.

John McCain Runs for President

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 announced as his running mate in August. He lost the general election against President Barack Obama, winning 173 electoral votes to Obama's 365, and 46 percent of the popular vote, compared to 53 percent for Obama, according to CNN.

John McCain Continues in the Senate

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

John McCain Is Diagnosed with Brain Cancer

After undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot near his left eye, McCain revealed on July 19, 2017 that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer. He remained positive in the face of the diagnosis, writing on Twitter: "I greatly appreciate the outpouring of support – unfortunately for my sparring partners in Congress, I'll be back soon, so stand-by!"

John McCain's Final Days

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 Arizona before his death on Aug. 25, 2018.

In an interview with PEOPLE months 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."

His Sept. 1, 2018, funeral was attended by numerous colleagues from both sides of the aisle, as he was memorialized by former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.