Washington, Aug 26 (DPA) US Senator Edward Kennedy, who became the Kennedy family's political standard bearer after his brothers, president John F. Kennedy and senator Robert Kennedy, were assassinated, has died at 77 after battling brain cancer.

His family released a statement announcing his death late Tuesday at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

The youngest Kennedy brother, also known as 'Teddy', was one of the longest serving US senators, spending 46 years in the chamber, where he was known as a liberal lion.

He was diagnosed with brain cancer in May 2008.

'Edward M. Kennedy - the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply - died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port,' the family said in a statement published by The Boston Globe.