John McCain, who died on Saturday at the age of 81, was a national figure whose decades of public service and distinctive public persona made him a larger-than-life figure in the increasingly polarized world of American politics.

Mr. McCain was frequently referred to as a “maverick,” an image he cultivated to advance his political goals, including two failed presidential runs. After those defeats, he became known as a conservative lion of the Senate, who — despite his famous temper — believed that partisan disputes and civility could coexist in Washington.

[Read the obituary for John McCain.]

Here is a look at Mr. McCain’s public history.