Margaret Hilda Roberts was born on 13th October, 1925 in the southern Lincolnshire town of Grantham. She studied at Grantham Girls School and then at Somerville College Oxford where she read chemistry. Following this she studied law and took her Bar finals in 1953. She then began working as a lawyer specialising in tax law.  I don't mind how much my ministers talk, so long as they do what I say.
| | Margaret Thatcher |
After standing unsuccessfully for election in Dartford in 1950, her parliamentary career began in 1959 when she was elected to the House of Commons. She held various ministerial positions including Minister for Education (1970-4) and was elected as leader of the Conservative Party in 1975. It was four years later that she led the Conservatives to victory in the 1979 general election. She led her party to two more election victories making her the only British Prime Minister in the 20th century to be elected for three successive terms. Margaret Thatcher was a powerful and inspiring leader. Her policies were often highly controversial - the introduction of the poll tax and privatisation being just two examples.  | | The 'Iron Lady' |
In 1990 the Conservative Party was deeply divided over a number of issues not least of which was the influence of Europe on the British economy. This led to her resignation in November of that year and she was succeeded by John Major. Just two years later Margaret Thatcher resigned from the House of Commons and was made a life peer taking the title Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven. | 
