Margaret Thatcher Fast Facts

CNN Library

Updated 1316 GMT (2116 HKT) April 27, 2017

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/08/world/europe/uk-margaret-thatcher-dead/">Margaret Thatcher</a>, the first woman to become British prime minister, has died at 87 after a stroke, a spokeswoman said Monday, April 8. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/08/world/europe/margaret-thatcher-icon-outcast/">Known as the "Iron Lady,"</a> Thatcher, as Conservative Party leader, was prime minister from 1979 to 1990. Here she visits British Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street in London in June 2010.

Photos: Photos: Thatcher through the years

Margaret Thatcher through the years – Margaret Thatcher, the first woman to become British prime minister, has died at 87 after a stroke, a spokeswoman said Monday, April 8. Known as the "Iron Lady," Thatcher, as Conservative Party leader, was prime minister from 1979 to 1990. Here she visits British Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street in London in June 2010.

Hide Caption

1 of 36

Thatcher with her parents and sister Muriel in 1945. Thatcher, born Margaret Hilda Roberts in 1925, studied chemistry at Oxford University and worked as a research chemist before becoming a barrister in 1954.

Photos: Photos: Thatcher through the years

Margaret Thatcher through the years – Thatcher with her parents and sister Muriel in 1945. Thatcher, born Margaret Hilda Roberts in 1925, studied chemistry at Oxford University and worked as a research chemist before becoming a barrister in 1954.

Hide Caption

2 of 36

Conservative Party candidate Margaret Roberts, the youngest candidate for any party in the 1950 general election, works in a laboratory where she was a research chemist.

Photos: Photos: Thatcher through the years

Margaret Thatcher through the years – Conservative Party candidate Margaret Roberts, the youngest candidate for any party in the 1950 general election, works in a laboratory where she was a research chemist.

Hide Caption

3 of 36

The Conservative Party candidate for Dartford in Kent, England, meets some potential constituents in January 1950.

Photos: Photos: Thatcher through the years

Margaret Thatcher through the years – The Conservative Party candidate for Dartford in Kent, England, meets some potential constituents in January 1950.

Hide Caption

4 of 36

Thatcher chats with a police officer outside the House of Commons, where she took a seat as a member of Parliament for Finchley in October 1959.

Photos: Photos: Thatcher through the years

Margaret Thatcher through the years – Thatcher chats with a police officer outside the House of Commons, where she took a seat as a member of Parliament for Finchley in October 1959.

Hide Caption

5 of 36

Photos: Photos: Thatcher through the years

Margaret Thatcher through the years – Thatcher addresses a Conservative Party conference in October 1967.

Hide Caption

6 of 36

Photos: Photos: Thatcher through the years

Margaret Thatcher through the years – Thatcher in 1970. Within five years, she would become leader of the Conservatives.

Hide Caption

7 of 36

Prime Minister Edward Heath with 13 of 15 newly elected Conservative women members of Parliament outside the House of Commons in June 1970. Thatcher became secretary of state for education and science under Heath.

Photos: Photos: Thatcher through the years

Margaret Thatcher through the years – Prime Minister Edward Heath with 13 of 15 newly elected Conservative women members of Parliament outside the House of Commons in June 1970. Thatcher became secretary of state for education and science under Heath.

Hide Caption

8 of 36

Photos: Photos: Thatcher through the years

Margaret Thatcher through the years – Thatcher plays the piano for her husband, Denis, and their twins, Mark and Carol, then 17, in September 1970.

Hide Caption

9 of 36