Margaret Thatcher Autograph

Profession:
(1925-2013) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. The longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century, she was the first woman to hold that office. As prime minister, she implemented policies that became known as Thatcherism.

Year of Birth: 1925

Margaret Thatcher, born Margaret Hilda Roberts on October 13, 1925, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, was the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She served as Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 and was the leader of the Conservative Party during that time.

Thatcher was known for her strong conservative policies, which included privatization of state-owned industries, reduction of government spending, and anti-union measures. She was nicknamed the "Iron Lady" for her tough stance on various issues.

Thatcher studied chemistry at the University of Oxford before working as a research chemist and then as a barrister. She was elected to the House of Commons in 1959 and quickly rose through the ranks of the Conservative Party.

During her time as Prime Minister, Thatcher implemented major economic reforms that were controversial at the time but are now seen as having laid the groundwork for the economic prosperity of the 1990s and beyond.

Thatcher's time in office was also marked by conflicts, including the Falklands War with Argentina in 1982 and the miners' strike of 1984-1985. Despite facing criticism from many quarters, Thatcher remained popular with her conservative supporters.

After leaving office in 1990, Thatcher continued to be active in public life, giving speeches and writing books. She passed away on April 8, 2013, at the age of 87, leaving behind a complex and controversial legacy.