Former Liberal Party president and Carlton boss John Elliott dies aged 79

Former Liberal Party president and Carlton boss John Elliott has died in hospital aged 79.

The businessman was federal president of the Liberal Party from 1987 to 1990 as well as treasurer and vice-president of the Liberal Party in Victoria, as well as its federal treasurer.

He also served as the president of the Carlton football club from 1983 to 2002, presiding over two AFL premierships.

His son Tom Elliott confirmed his father's death to the Herald Sun on Thursday evening.

"Sadly, my father, John Elliot, died just a couple of hours ago," The Age reports Tom Elliot as saying.

"He had been ill for a few weeks. He had a bad fall a little while back and had been at the Epworth Hospital at Richmond.

"We got the very sad news this afternoon that he had taken his last breath."

Elliott would have been 80 in October.

Tributes have come in from Liberal party members at both state and federal levels.