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Margaret Thatcher

by Vivianne Whitney from Lincoln, England

Margaret Hilda Roberts was born on October 13th 1925 in Grantham, England. Her shopkeeper parents would have no idea that she would become one of Britain's most prolific political figures of the twentieth century. She began her path into history when she studied on a scholarship at the prestigious Oxford University, taking two degrees in Chemistry and Law. At the age of 34 her fascination with politics began when she argued her way into one of the best Tory seats in the country, Finchley, North London.

Had it not been for Margaret's quick mind and faster mouth there might not have been such a memorable Prime Minister. By the age of 44 she got settled into the "statutory woman's" place in the Cabinet as the Education Minister and many believed that to be the climax of her career. But Margaret wasn't willing to resign herself to such a position.

In 1975 she challenged Edward Heath for the leadership of the Tory party simply because the candidate of the party's right wing abandoned the contest at the last minute, so Thatcher stepped into the breach. Heath challenged her by saying she would lose, but by 1979 he would be eating his words as she was elected Britain's first female Prime Minister.

Margaret was severely lambasted during her reign as Prime Minister. She brought down national institutions, such as out of control unions, and she set about privatising the nationalised industries. However, by the end of the 1980s more than 50 countries had adopted Thatcher's privatisation policy. Even left wing countries begin to reduce their public sector secretively.

Margaret Thatcher will not just be remembered in history as a political figure. With her combined willpower and her femininity it was evident she would attract universal attention and begin a new historical epoch. The world enters the 21st century a wiser place, owing in no small part to the daughter of a shopkeeper, who proved that nothing is more effective than determination allied to a few, clear, simple and workable ideas.

Page created on 8/30/2009 8:35:57 AM

Last edited 10/13/2017 4:55:11 PM

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Related Links

Margaret Thatcher Foundation - Access to thousands of historical documents relating to the Thatcher period

Extra Info

With thanks to www.time.com