Margaret Thatcher

Date of Birth: October 13, 1925

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: April 8, 2013

Biography

Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was born on October 13, 1925, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. She was the daughter of Alfred Roberts, a grocer and local alderman, and Beatrice Ethel. Thatcher attended Somerville College, Oxford, where she studied chemistry. She later qualified as a barrister, specializing in tax law. Thatcher’s political career began in earnest when she was elected as the Member of Parliament for Finchley in 1959. She quickly rose through the ranks of the Conservative Party, holding various positions before becoming the Secretary of State for Education and Science in 1970. In 1975, she became the leader of the Conservative Party, and in 1979, she made history by becoming the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Her tenure as Prime Minister lasted from 1979 to 1990, making her the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century. Thatcher was known for her strong, uncompromising leadership style and her conservative policies, which came to be known as “Thatcherism.” These policies included deregulation, privatization of state-owned industries, and reducing the power and influence of trade unions. Thatcher’s tenure was marked by significant events, including the Falklands War in 1982, the miners’ strike of 1984-85, and her implementation of the controversial Community Charge, known as the “poll tax.” Her leadership style and policies were both highly praised and deeply criticized, but her impact on British politics is undeniable. After leaving office in 1990, Thatcher continued to be an influential figure in politics and public life until her death on April 8, 2013.

5 Interesting Facts about Margaret Thatcher

1. Thatcher was the first woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom.

2. She earned the nickname “The Iron Lady” from a Soviet journalist due to her strong stance against communism.

3. Thatcher was one of the key architects behind the creation of the European Single Market.

4. She survived an assassination attempt by the IRA in 1984 at the Conservative Party conference in Brighton.

5. She was portrayed by Meryl Streep in the biographical film “The Iron Lady,” for which Streep won an Academy Award.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Margaret Thatcher

1. “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”

2. “Watch your thoughts, for they will become actions. Watch your actions, for they’ll become… habits. Watch your habits, for they will forge your character. Watch your character, for it will make your destiny.”

3. “Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.”

4. “I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.”

5. “There is no such thing as society: there are individual men and women, and there are families.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At her peak, Margaret Thatcher’s net worth was estimated to be around £10 million.

Children

Margaret Thatcher had two children with her husband, Denis Thatcher: a son, Mark Thatcher, and a daughter, Carol Thatcher. Mark became a businessman and was known for his involvement in various controversies, while Carol is a journalist and author.