Obituary: Margaret Thatcher, Former Prime Minister of England, Dies at 87

Biography of Margaret Thatcher:

• Margaret Thatcher ruled as Prime Minister of England for over 12 years, the longest continuously serving premier in more than 150 years. 
• She was born in a small town in northern England on Oct 13, 1925. Her father was a grocer and local mayor. He was rigid in his moral principles and conservative. Thatcher said, "I owe almost everything to my father," referring to her politics and ambition.
• She went to Oxford University to study chemistry, earned a law degree in London, and later joined the Parliament as its youngest female member. She married Denis Thatcher, a rich, divorced businessman and had twins -- a boy and girl. His support of her was complete and unwavering.
• She was known as a fierce, cold warrior, earning the nickname which she loved, "Iron Lady." She made sure she always looked good and took elocution lessons so she spoke well. 
• She became prime minister in 1979 and immediately slashed income taxes but raised taxes on goods and services.
• In 1982, when Argentina invaded British-ruled Falkland Islands, Thatcher launched a counter-attack that recaptured the island, earned her praise, and made her a world figure. 
• She created a conservative free-market revolution, called "Thatcherism," which sought to reinvigorate post-war England and dismantle the welfare state. She was extremely close with Reagan and his politics.
• They say she was successful not only because of her political moves but because of her personality. She was extremely confident, warrior-like, queen-like, and nanny-like. She did not engage in self-doubt. She would not swerve from her principles, ever. 
• Her capacity for hard work, courage, and little sleep was famous.  Once a bomb blasted through her hotel room at 3 AM. She was awake and working on a speech for a morning conference. She still gave that conference even though 5 people died in the blast and others would have been too scared.
• Thatcher died of Alzheimer. She was especially remarkable because she was able to break through the male-dominated political world of England. She was also remarkable for breaking through the rigid class structures of England, going from being a shopkeeper's daughter to a prime minister and dying a Baroness.

Pictures of Margaret Thatcher

Film About Thatcher: In 2011, a movie about Margaret Thatcher came out. I haven't seen it yet but I'll probably rent it now to learn more about her. Meryl Streep won an Oscar for her role as Margaret Thatcher.