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Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher was born on 13 October 1925 in Lincolnshire, England.

As a child Thatcher was a good student and her father gave her her first taste of politics as he was active locally. She graduated Somerville College, Oxford with a second class degree in chemistry, and then worked as a research chemist.

In 1959 she took her first seat in the House of Commons and made her presence known on controversial issues by supporting the bill to decriminalize homosexuality and voting in favor of the bill to legalize abortions.  In 1970 the Conservatives won the general election and she became the Secretary of State for Education and Science. When the party Leader lost twice in a row she decided to enter the race for leadership and unexpectedly won to become the leader of the opposition.

In 1979 the existing Government fell and following a general election the Conservatives won a majority and she became the UK’s first female Prime Minister.  She began with a mandate to reverse the UK’s economic decline and reduce the role of the State in the economy.

She continued her leadership until 1990 when she announced she would not be a candidate on the second ballot, which effectively brought an end to her term of office. 

Her years in power divided the public into two sides, those who loved her and those who loathed her. Regardless of that she brought about many great changes for the UK and was definitely one of the most significant British politicians in recent history.

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