Former media mogul who owned Daily Telegraph spent more than three years in prison

Donald Trump has pardoned Conrad Black, the former media mogul who owned the Daily Telegraph and the Spectator before being jailed for fraud, shortly after he wrote a book praising the US president.

Black, a Canadian-born British citizen, was once known for his extravagant lifestyle as he ran an international newspaper empire that included the Chicago Sun-Times and the Jerusalem Post. But he ended up serving three and a half years in prison after he was convicted in 2007 of siphoning off millions of dollars from the sale of newspapers owned by the company he controlled.

Since leaving jail Black, who is a British peer, has been on a quest to clear his name. Last year he published a book entitled Donald J Trump: A President Like No Other, writing that Trump “is not, in fact, a racist, sexist, warmonger, hothead, promoter of violence, or a foreign or domestic economic warrior”. He suggested the president had been misunderstood.

Quick guide Conrad Black on Donald Trump Show Hide On Trump’s personality 'Like the country he represents, Donald Trump possesses the optimism to persevere and succeed, the confidence to affront tradition and convention, a genius for spectacle, and a firm belief in common sense and the common man.' On Trump’s attitude towards women 'Donald himself stepped in when Miss Universe, Alicia Machado, ballooned from 118 to 160 pounds during her reign in 1996. He encouraged her to lose weight (something that Hillary Clinton, bizarrely, made a campaign issue in 2016).' On Trump’s view of ordinary people '… he did not like reality television, which he considered to be for “the bottom-feeders of society'. On Trump’s wealth 'The subject of Trump’s wealth, not that it much matters to anyone except himself, as he is obviously a very wealthy man by the standards of all but a handful of people in the world, is difficult to assess precisely.' On Trump's dream of becoming president 'To a man of Donald Trump’s self-confidence, the idea of becoming president of the United States was not at all outrageous. He … did not believe that [politicians and presidents he had met] had any special powers or talents or mystique he lacked. In fact, he had qualities that some of them didn’t.' On Trump’s language during the preliminary presidential campaign 'He generally made hilarious jokes and punchy declarations and generated a great deal of mirth. … Trump regularly attacked the media, often singling out individual reporters or pundits as “low-lifes” and “liars” and so forth.' 'Trump referred to McCain as a "dummy", which was also uncalled for, though it was, like a great many of Trump’s comments and much of his conversation, good for a laugh.' On Trump’s way of dealing with hecklers during his speeches '[Trump’s] best response was: "Try not to hurt him. If you do, I’ll defend you in court."' On Melania Trump 'Melania is a devoted mother, ignores the snide imbecilities of her husband’s media lampooners, is well-liked and respected by the public, and always makes an excellent and tastefully glamorous impression when she goes abroad.' On Trump’s way of doing business '… shareholders found themselves responsible for $1.7bn of Trump debt. But Trump still profited. He took $44m of pay and bonuses from the company between 1995 and 2009 (and even sold the company almost $2m worth of Trump Ice bottled water).' 'Donald Trump appeared to have a unique combination of desperate cunning, unflagging determination, unshakable self-confidence, ruthless Darwinian instincts of survival, and a sublime assurance that celebrity will heal all wounds. … His obsession with celebrity would drive his enemies to paroxysms of mockery, and then of fear.' On Trump’s reaction to the financial crash 'After the economy almost collapsed in 2008, he consoled himself with the spectacle of the bankers who had put him on the rack (crying like starving children for government assistance).' On Trump, the golfer 'Trump, a very good golfer, also lent his name to golf courses.' Jedidajah Otte Photograph: MAI/Rex Features

Trump called Black personally to deliver the news that he was to receive a full presidential pardon, dubbing him “the great Lord Black”.

Play Video 1:27 Donald Trump and Conrad Black: their mutual admiration in five clips – video report

A White House spokesperson said the decision had been made because of Black’s “tremendous contributions to business, as well as to political and historical thought”, as well as the work he had done supporting fellow prisoners while inside.

Trump’s spokesperson said lobbying from people such as the former secretary of state Henry Kissinger, the conservative talkshow host Rush Limbaugh and the singer Sir Elton John had also contributed to the decision. US presidents have the absolute right to pardon individuals convicted of federal offences under the constitution.

Timeline The rise and fall of Conrad Black Show Hide Conrad Black is born in Montreal, Canada. During his education he was expelled from Upper Canada College for selling exam papers. He lasted less than a year at Trinity College School before being again expelled. Black begins investing in the Canadian media industry, starting his empire by buying shares in two weekly newspapers. By 1996 he controlled 59 of Canada's 105 daily newspapers. Black buys a stake in the Daily Telegraph in the UK, which he would retain for nearly 20 years. Black renounces his Canadian citizenship in order to be named Lord Black of Crossharbour and enter the House of Lords in the UK, sitting as a Conservative peer. At the height of his power, Black controlled around 18% of the Hollinger media empire. As well as the Daily Telegraph, the company's portfolio included the Chicago Sun-Times and the Jerusalem Post, and more than 200 other newspapers. The company had an estimated value of more than £550m. Black’s net personal worth was estimated at $400m. Black resigns from the board of Hollinger after allegations of misappropriation of company funds. The publishing group begins to break up that year, with the Barclay Brothers buying the Daily Telegraph and the Israeli publisher Mirkaei Tikshoret paying $13.2m in cash for the Jerusalem Post. By 2009 the group had filed for bankruptcy. Black is jailed for six-and-a-half years for his part in defrauding Hollinger shareholders of $6.1m (£4m) through phoney 'non-compete' agreements attached to the sale of newspaper titles, and for defying a subsequent court order by removing boxes of paperwork from his office. After two of his three fraud convictions were voided on appeal, and his sentence shortened, Black is released from prison. He was deported from the US and moved to Toronto. He later described one aspect of being in prison, where his job was cleaning the shower stalls. 'It wasn’t terribly exciting work. You just put soap on the wall and focus a hose on it. There was a social component to it, however. All of these guards from all over coming to watch this millionaire clean the shower.' Black publishes a glowing book on the US president, Donald Trump, titled 'A President Like No Other'. In it he says: 'Those who oppose Trump generally do not understand how desperate and disgusted almost half of Americans are at the most inept 20-year streak of presidential misgovernment in American history that preceded the 2016 election.' Black announces that in a personal phone call, Donald Trump has given him a full pardon.

Black, who bought the Daily Telegraph in 1986, became a member of the House of Lords in 2001 after being put forward for a peerage by the then Conservative leader, William Hague. He renounced his Canadian citizenship to take the honour, becoming Lord Black of Crossharbour, and sat on the Tory benches until his fraud conviction.

He is currently on a leave of absence from the British parliament but has previously suggested he could return. A House of Lords spokesperson confirmed Black could vote on British laws again if he gave three months’ notice of his intention to return.

‘He’s done quite well’: why Conrad Black thinks Trump is what the US needs Read more

Black has had previous dealings with Trump. Two decades ago he agreed to work with the future president to build a skyscraper on the site of an old Chicago newspaper office. Trump was considered as a potential witness at Black’s fraud trail.

In 2005 – at a time when Trump was still an unlikely candidate for the Republican presidential nomination – Black wrote a piece entitled”: “Trump is the good guy”. Trump responded by praising Black as “one of the truly great intellects and my friend”, promising not to forget the article.

Black’s record of lavish spending includes a $42,000 birthday party for his wife. And he is said to have told potential investors who asked why he needed a corporate jet: “I can have a 747 if I want.”

Black was jailed after being found guilty of conspiring with fellow executives to siphon off funds from the sale of media businesses. Two of Black’s three fraud convictions were later voided, and his sentence was shortened. Black was released from a Florida prison in May 2012 and deported.

He said he thought it was a prank by British tabloid journalists when he received the call from the White House informing him that he was about to be pardoned.

Conrad Black (@ConradMBlack) When my assistant said there was a call from the White House, I picked up, said “Hello” and started to ask if this was a prank (suspecting my friends in the British tabloid media), but the caller spoke politely over me: “Please hold for the president.” https://t.co/8jdA7j5dMO

Writing after the pardon in the Canadian National Post newspaper, which Black founded, he said Trump “could not have been more gracious and quickly got to the point: he was granting me a full pardon that would ‘expunge the bad rap you got’”.

Black said Trump had followed his case closely and offered to give evidence at the 2007 trial in Chicago. The president told Black that there would be some controversy over the pardon, “but you can handle that better than anyone”.

While running the Telegraph, Black jetted around the world between his multiple homes, threw expensive dinner parties, and once attended a fancy-dress event at Kensington Palace with his wife, Barbara Amiel, dressed as Cardinal Richelieu and Marie Antoinette respectively. He no longer controls his media assets, and the Daily Telegraph and Spectator were later sold to the Barclay brothers.

The White House said Black’s case had attracted “broad support from many high-profile individuals who have vigorously vouched for his exceptional character”.

“Formerly the owner of the world’s then third largest newspaper, he is also the author of several notable biographies and works of history,” the White House said in a statement announcing the decision. “These include comprehensive biographies of Presidents Franklin D Roosevelt and Richard M Nixon, a complete history of Canada, and an impressive essay evaluating how the world would have been different had Japan not attacked Pearl Harbour.”