Facts about Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Hilda Thatcher is a British politician, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. Here are some facts about Margaret Thatcher:

Facts about Margaret Thatcher

• Margaret Hilda Roberts was born on October 13, 1925 to Alfred Roberts and Beatrice Roberts nee Stephenson.
• Margaret Thatcher was brought up as a devout Methodist and has remained a Christian throughout her life.
• As a student Margaret Thatcher was hardworking and committed, but not brilliant. She also played hockey and enjoyed swimming.
• Margaret Thatcher was the first woman to lead a major political party in the UK, and was the first of only three women to have held any of the four great offices of state.
• Thatcher became Prime Minister on May 4, 1979, with a mandate to reverse the UK's economic decline and to reduce the role of the state in the economy.
• On November 1, 1990, Sir Geoffrey Howe, who was formerly known as one of Thatcher's staunchest supporters, resigned from his position as Deputy Prime Minister in order to protest against Thatcher's European policy.
• On November 22, 1990, Margaret Thatcher resigned as the Prime Minister of United Kingdom.
• After leaving the House of Commons, Thatcher remained active in the politics of the United Kingdom, as well as the world.
• Margaret Thatcher became a member of the House of Lords in 1992 by the conferment of a life peerage as Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven in the County of Lincolnshire.
• Margaret Thatcher authored her memoirs in two volumes, which are titled The Path to Power and The Downing Street Years. In the year 1993, her book The Downing Street Years was made into a documentary series by the BBC.
• On October 13, 2005, Margaret Thatcher celebrated her 80th birthday with a party at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hyde Park. The guests included Queen Elizabeth II, The Duke of Edinburgh, and Princess Alexandra.
• A statue of Margaret Thatcher was unveiled in the British Houses of Parliament on February 21, 2007.
• On March 7, 2008, Margaret Thatcher was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital, Central London for tests due to health concerns, after she felt ill whilst attending a House of Lords dinner.
• On August 24, 2008 it was publicly revealed Margaret Thatcher has been suffering from dementia.