Lord Roberts of Conwy has died at the age of 83.
He piloted the Welsh Language Act in 1983 and as Wyn Roberts served as Conservative MP for Conwy from 1970 until his retirement from the House of Commons in 1997.
During 18 years of government, he was the longest-serving minister in the same department.
Welsh Secretary David Jones called him "an extraordinary man" and a "powerful exponent" of the Welsh language.
The non conformist minister's son from Anglesey turned to politics after starting his career in journalism.
After Margaret Thatcher won the 1979 election, Wyn Roberts was made Welsh Office minister and his responsibilities included the Welsh language.
He never made it into the cabinet but served under four Secretaries of State and two prime ministers.
"Start Quote
End Quote David Jones MP Welsh SecretaryWyn Roberts was the greatest Welshman of his generation"
He became Baron Roberts of Conwy when he retired as an MP in 1997 and was as an opposition spokesman on Welsh affairs in the Lords until 2007.
Lord Roberts leaves a wife, Enid - who he married in 1956 - and sons Huw and Geraint. His son Rhys died in 2004.
Welsh Secretary David Jones said Lord Roberts had been "a very active man" in the House of Lords until becoming ill a few months ago.
LORD ROBERTS, 1930-2013
- Born 10 July 1930, Llansadwrn, Anglesey
- Educated at Harrow (scholarship) and Oxford
- Married Enid, three sons
- Former journalist with The Liverpool Post, BBC Wales, TWW and programme executive Harlech TV
- MP for Conwy 1970-1997
- Opposition spokesman on Welsh Aff 1974-79
- Parliamentary Under Sec Welsh Office 1979-87, Minister of State for Wales 1987-94
- Opposition spokesman on constitutional affairs (Wales) House of Lords 1997-2001, and Welsh Affairs 2001-07
- President of Univ of Wales College of Medicine 1997-2004, vice-pres Univ of Cardiff 2004-07; member Gorsedd National Eisteddfod 1966; honorary fellow Bangor Univ 1995, Aberystwyth Univ 1997; honorary doctorate Univ of Wales 2005
He called him "the greatest Welshman of his generation."
"The greatest of his many political achievements was the Welsh Language Act, which gave full and proper recognition in public life to the language of which he was such a masterful and powerful exponent, and which he loved so much," said Mr Jones.
He said this was his "personal achievement" and marked him as "doing more for Welsh cultural life than any man of his generation."
Mr Jones added that Lord Roberts was "an extraordinary man, very kind, extremely wise with a tremendous sense humour."
"To me, he was a kind friend and wise counsellor. He will be greatly missed, both in Wales and in Westminster."
Veteran journalist and friend Derek Bellis told BBC Radio Wales: "He was a very kind, gentle and humorous man with a giant intellect but no ego at all.
"I never saw him have a single cross word. He often had to run the brunt of demonstrations but took it all in good heart."
Mr Bellis added: "I visited him over the last few months when he was ill but his brain was as sharp as a tack.
"He was no toff was Wyn - he was a man of the people."
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