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Former Defence Minister And NATO Secretary General Dies Aged 99

Lord Carrington at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall, London, in June 1970 (Picture: PA).

Former Defence Secretary and NATO Secretary General, Lord Carrington has died, aged 99.

Prior to becoming a politician, Peter Carrington served in World War Two where he earned a Military Cross.

He later returned to his military roots as UK Defence Secretary and later as NATO Secretary General between 1984-1988.

Margaret Thatcher and Lord Carrington, before meeting German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt at RAF Benson (Picture: PA).

Lord Carrington was the last surviving member of Sir Winston Churchill's post-war government and he famously resigned from Margaret Thatcher's cabinet as Foreign Secretary in 1982 after taking responsibility for the Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands.

He also previously chaired the Lancaster House talks in 1979 which led to the establishment of the state of Zimbabwe.

Lord Carrington, First Lord of the Admiralty, and Lady Carrington with Rear-Admiral JH Unwin at Portsmouth Dockyard (Picture: PA).

Downing Street described his death as "very sad news", while Prime Minister Theresa May's effective deputy, David Lidington, paid tribute to "a career given to public service".

Mr Lidington, whose Aylesbury constituency in Buckinghamshire includes the Carrington family home at Bledlow, said on Twitter: "Very sorry to learn of the death of my constituent Lord Carrington, former Defence and Foreign Secretary & last surviving member of Churchill's post-war govt.

"His career was given to public service. My deep sympathy to his family."

Very sorry to learn of the death of my constituent Lord Carrington, former Defence and Foreign Secretary & last surviving member of Churchill's post-war govt. His career was given to public service. My deep sympathy to his family. 1/2
— David Lidington (@DLidington) July 10, 2018

Lord Carrington will also be remembered with fondness by his neighbours in Bledlow. 2/2
— David Lidington (@DLidington) July 10, 2018

Former Prime Minister David Cameron also took to Twitter to remember Lord Carrington who he described as a "lovely man and a great public servant" who will be "deeply missed".

Peter Carrington was a lovely man and a great public servant. It was a huge honour having him to Chequers and listening to his stories of working with every Conservative leader from Winston Churchill onwards. Kindness and brilliance in equal measure; he'll be deeply missed. pic.twitter.com/nPxTobnP8Z
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) July 10, 2018

Lord Carrington was well known for the quote:

"This was a terrific humiliation for Britain, for the Falkland Islands to be invaded... I think there had to be a political sacrifice for that, so I think I was right in resigning because I was the foreign secretary."

Lord Carrington's death on Monday came on the same day as the resignations of Boris Johnson and David Davis - the first time two Cabinet ministers had quit within 24 hours of each other since he and Humphrey Atkins resigned in 1982.