Full Name: Margaret Hilda Roberts
Profession: British Prime Minister
Biography: First female British Prime Minister, known as 'The Iron Lady'. While in office her policies became known as Thatcherism, with an emphasis on deregulation, free markets and the privatization of state-owned companies. While support for her government fell in the first term due to high unemployment and recession, her victory in the 1982 Falklands War with Argentina brought her into power in the following year's election.
On the international stage she remained skeptical of the European Community and forged a close ideological alliance with US President Ronald Reagan. After re-election for a third term in 1987, Thatcher's position on the European Community caused a split in her cabinet and her 'poll tax' Community Charge was widely unpopular. She was forced to resign in 1990 after challenges to her leadership of the party by senior Conservatives.
Born: October 13, 1925
Birthplace: Grantham, Lincolnshire, England
Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Ox
Star Sign: Libra
Articles and Photos
Poll Tax Triggers the Peasants' Revolt
Wat Tyler, leader of the Peasants' Revolt that rocked England, was stabbed and later beheaded on this day.
June 15, 1381
St Paul's Defies Bombing Conflagration
There had been a church on this London spot for well over 1,000 years but it seemed only a miracle could save it from the inferno caused by 100,000 bombs.
June 21, 1675
Why 'SuperMac' was Banished From Number 10
War hero, Edwardian gentleman, academic, friend of the Kennedys, former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was born on this day.
February 10, 1894
Britain Joins the European Community
British MPs voted on this day to join the European Communities, as it was then known. It was to be a thorny issue, finally leading to ‘Brexit’ in 2020.
February 17, 1972
Argentine Soldiers Surrender in the Falklands
Argentinian prisoners of war are marched in Port Stanley after they surrendered in the Falklands War
June 14, 1982
Sino-British Joint Declaration
The Sino-British Joint Declaration is signed by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (left) and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang (right)
December 19, 1984
'Splendid Achievement' becomes the 'Road To Hell'
London's orbital road, the M25 was hailed as a splendid achievement by PM Margaret Thatcher when she opened it on this day. But it soon developed another nickname...
October 29, 1986
Margaret Thatcher Tax Triggers Riot
London was rocked by a major riot on this day in history as protests erupted against the poll tax introduced by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
March 31, 1990
Married Life
- 1951-12-13 Future British PM Margaret Roberts (26) weds businessman Denis Thatcher (36) at Wesley's Chapel in City Road, London
Historical Events
- 1970-06-19 British Conservative government of Edward Heath forms with Margaret Thatcher in the Cabinet
- 1975-02-11 Margaret Thatcher defeats Edward Heath for leadership of the British Conservative Party
- 1979-05-04 Margaret Thatcher becomes the first woman to be elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
- 1983-01-09 British PM Margaret Thatcher visits Falkland Islands
- 1983-06-09 Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party wins British parliamentary election
- 1984-10-12 IRA bombs the Grand Hotel, Brighton, where British PM Margaret Thatcher is staying, 5 die
- 1984-12-19 Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sign the Sino-British Joint Declaration to transfer Hong Kong back to China in 1997
- 1985-01-29 Oxford University refuses to award Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher an honorary degree
- 1986-05-24 Margaret Thatcher becomes 1st British Prime Minister to visit Israel
- 1986-10-29 British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher opens the final stretch of London's Orbital Motorway, the M25. Then the world’s longest ring road at 117 miles (188.3 km).
- 1987-06-11 Margaret Thatcher is the first British Prime Minister in 160 years to win a third consecutive term
- 1988-01-03 Margaret Thatcher becomes longest-serving British PM this century
- 1988-11-16 President Reagan and the First Lady participate in the official state arrival ceremony, meetings and a state dinner with Margaret Thatcher
- 1990-11-01 Last of Margaret Thatcher's original government resigns, Deputy PM Howe
- 1990-11-14 Michael Heseltine contests Margaret Thatcher's leadership of the British Conservative Party
- 1990-11-20 British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher fails to defeat Michael Heseltine's bid for leadership of the Conservative Party
- 1990-11-22 Margaret Thatcher announces her resignation as British Prime Minister
- 1990-11-28 Conservative Party chooses John Major to succeed Margaret Thatcher as leader and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
- 1992-06-30 Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher joins the House of Lords as Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven
Arthur Wellesley
Neville Chamberlain
Ramsay MacDonald
Tony Blair
William Grenville
William Pitt the Younger