biography
| name: |
Thatcher (of Kesteven), Margaret (Hilda) Thatcher, Baroness
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née Roberts
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| sex:
| female
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| lived:
| (1925– )
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| biography:
| British stateswoman and prime minister (1979–90), born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, EC England, UK. She studied at Oxford, and worked as a research chemist (1947–51). She married Denis Thatcher in 1951, studied law, and was called to the bar in 1954. Elected as Conservative MP for Finchley in 1959, she joined the shadow cabinet in 1967. She became secretary of state for education and science (1970–4), joint shadow chancellor (1974–5), and in 1975 replaced Edward Heath as Leader of the Conservative Party to become the first woman party leader in British politics. Under her leadership, the Conservative Party moved towards a more ‘right wing’ position, and British politics and society became more polarized than at any time since World War 2. Her government instituted the privatization of nationalized industries and national utilities, tried to institute a market in state-provided health care and education, and reduced the role of local government as a provider of services. She was re-elected in 1983 with a large majority, despite the worst unemployment figures for 50 years, aided by the tide of popular feeling following the Falklands War, and disarray in the Opposition parties. She was elected for a third term of office in 1987, and by 1988 had become the longest serving premier of the 20th-c. Her personal political philosophy was popularly referred to as Thatcherism, characterized by the resolution to persevere with policies despite objections from critics and doubts from her supporters. She resigned (Nov 1990) as a result of the controversy and in-fighting which followed her opposition to full monetary and economic union with Europe. Created a life peer in 1992, she continues to put forward her views on politics in speeches given throughout the world and through the establishment of a Foundation named after her. She published her memoirs, Margaret Thatcher: the Downing Street Years, in 1993, and later books include Statecraft (2002). |
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