Margaret Hilda Thatcher (October 13, 1925 – April 8, 2013) was a British politician who served as the country’s first female Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party from 1979 to 1990. She studied law and chemistry at Somerville College, Oxford, and entered politics after being elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament in 1959. In 1975, she became the first female leader of the Conservative Party and, following her victory in the 1979 general election, she became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
During her time in office, Thatcher implemented austerity measures, reformed the tax system, reduced the size of government, and pursued extensive privatization, among other policies. She also led Britain to victory in the Falklands War in 1982, securing continued public support and winning a third term in office in 1987. Her economic policies, known as “Thatcherism,” played a pivotal role in reviving the British economy.
In 1990, she resigned from her position following internal opposition to her stance on European integration. After retiring from politics, she remained active in various roles until her passing in 2013 at the age of 87.
