Charles James Kirk, who rose from Illinois high school student to one of the most recognisable conservative activists in the United States, has died aged 31. He was fatally shot in an incident that has shocked admirers and critics alike.
Born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, on October 14, 1993, Kirk grew up in a middle-class family and attended Wheeling High School. His early political awakening came during his teenage years, when he developed a keen interest in the clash of ideas on university campuses. Though he briefly studied at Harper College, he left before completing his degree in order to pursue political activism full time.
