A highly respected world leader renowned for her tough leadership style, Margaret Thatcher earned the title “the Iron Lady.” Her political philosophy is known as Thatcherism. She became Britain's first woman prime minister in 1979, and the longest-serving in the 20th century to win three consecutive elections.
Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990, Thatcher resigned, and presented with a peerage, she entered the House of Lords. Her book The Downing Street Years was published in 1993. She represented the Conservative ideals. Fiercely anti-socialist and anti-centralist government, she set about restructuring England’s social welfare system.
Early Life of Margaret Roberts Thatcher
Born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, on October 13, 1925, the second daughter of a retail grocer, Alfred Roberts, and wife Beatrice, Margaret Hilda Roberts earned a degree in chemistry. Her father was a Methodist lay preacher, and was very active in his community, serving in various civic positions. The story is told that when her father was a parttime justice of the peace, she often accompanied him to the courthouse, while she was fascinated by the unfolding legal dramas.
She did well in school and absorbed her adored father's advice and values, including thrift, hard work and independence. She entered Somerville College, Oxford, at the age of 17, where she joined and became president of the Oxford Union Conservative Association. After graduatuion, she bacame a research chemist for a plastic firm, but also began to plan her political future.
Politics and the Conservative Party
Staying involved with the Conservative Party, she became a candidate for Parliament, but lost her first two races, in 1950 and 1951. Her political activities led to her meeting businessman Denis Thatcher. They married in December 1951, and two years later, she gave birth to twins, a daughter and a son. By then, she was studying law, and was called to the bar the next year.
Parliament Win, Third Bid
Thatcher made her third bid for a seat in Parliament in 1959. This time she won. Her maiden speech was impressive, with her energy and command of statistics noticed by Conservative leaders. She was made shadow minister for several portfolios. When the Conservatives came to power in 1970, Thatcher was made Secretary of Education.
Three-Time Prime Minister
In 1974, the Conservatives lost the general election. Thatcher decided to enter the battle to choose a new party leader. She won in February 1975, having outpolled several other candidates. With a Conservative victory in 1979, she became prime minister for the first time; winning her second term in 1983, and her third in 1987.
Thatcherism Political Philosophy
Many of Thatcher's basic goals in office were similar to those of former President Ronald Reagan in the US, for instance, reducing government spending and regulation, lowering taxes for businesses, and curbing the power of labour unions (membership dropped from 50 percent to 35 percent of the labour force during Thatcher's three terms.)
Her friendship with then US President Reagan and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev enabled her to play a role in ending the Cold War. During the 1982 Falklands War against Argentina, the British people rallied in support of her.
Thatcher's Last Years in Power
Her role as prime minister ended when her leadership was challenged from within the Conservative Party. The issues were on the economic problems, foreign policy including her positions against European integration, and the unpopular poll tax which she championed. In November 1990, there was a change of Conservative party leadership which saw John Major replacing her. She briefly remained in Parliament, but became a member of the House of Lords after her elevation to the peerage by Queen Elizabeth II.
Honours and Legacy
Baroness Margaret Thatcher has received numerous highest honours and awards as a result of her career including chancellorships and commemorations from foreign countries.
Sources:
Liswood, Laura A. Women World Leaders: Fifteen Great Politicians Tell Their Stories. London: Harper Collins, 1995
Martin, Jean, General Editor. Who’s Who of Women in the Twentieth Century. London: Bison Group, 1995
Felder, Deborah G. The Giant Book of Influential Women. London: The book Company, 1997
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