The frail former Iron Lady was pictured last October with son Mark and his wife Sarah as they headed out for her 87th birthday dinner
KEY MOMENTS
- Born Margaret Roberts on 13 October 1925
- First stood for Parliament in the 1950 election
- Married businessman Denis Thatcher in 1951
- Elected as Conservative MP for Finchley in 1959
- Named education secretary by Ted Heath in 1970
- Defeated Heath in Tory leadership contest in 1975
- Became first female prime minister after Conservative election victory in 1979
- Sends taskforce to regain control of the Falklands Islands in 1982
- Wins landslide election victory in 1983
- Fights year-long battle with mining unions in 1984-5
- Survives IRA bombing of Brighton hotel during 1984 Conservative conference
- Wins third general election victory in 1987
- Resigns after facing leadership challenge in 1990
- Stands down as MP in 1992 and awarded a peerage
| In office 4 May 1979 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
|---|---|
| Deputy | William Whitelaw Geoffrey Howe |
| Preceded by | James Callaghan |
| Succeeded by | John Major |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 11 February 1975 – 4 May 1979 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson James Callaghan |
| Preceded by | Edward Heath |
| Succeeded by | James Callaghan |
| Leader of the Conservative Party | |
| In office 11 February 1975 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Preceded by | Edward Heath |
| Succeeded by | John Major |
| Secretary of State for Education and Science | |
| In office 20 June 1970 – 4 March 1974 | |
| Prime Minister | Edward Heath |
| Preceded by | Edward Short |
| Succeeded by | Reginald Prentice |
| Member of Parliament for Finchley | |
| In office 8 October 1959 – 9 April 1992 | |
| Preceded by | John Crowder |
| Succeeded by | Hartley Booth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Margaret Hilda Roberts 13 October 1925 Grantham, England |
| Died | 8 April 2013 (aged 87) London, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Denis Thatcher (1951–2003, his death) |
| Children | Carol Thatcher Mark Thatcher |
| Alma mater | Somerville College, Oxford Inns of Court |
| Profession | Chemist Lawyer |
| Religion | Church of England Methodism (1925–1951 |
