Margaret Thatcher is one of the most well known women in British history and especially in British politics. She was the first female Prime Minister of Britain and was known for her manner of addressing difficult issues. She was called Maggie by many people and friends and enemies alike called her Maggie Thatcher.
1. Margaret Thatcher was a very successful student and was very intelligent. She took some of her most important schooling at Kesteven Grammar School. She was accepted to Oxford University, but couldn’t attend at first because her school didn’t give her adequate training in Latin to pass the entrance exams. She finally began attending Oxford in 1943 after she learned Latin from a hired tutor. She graduated from Oxford in 1947.
2. While attending Oxford University, she joined the Conservative Association and was elected as the Chairman. This leadership role helped her to learn about what was involved with leading other students and other people in general. These traits and skills were essential as she began her political career and sought higher office.
3. On October 12, 1984 a bomb was planted in the hotel where Margaret Thatcher had been staying. It was discovered later that the intention of the bomber was to kill Thatcher. To many people, it was a very good thing that the attempt was unsuccessful.
4. Margaret Thatcher was born to a very faithful Methodist family in 1925. Her parents and relatives were devout Methodists and she was also a faithful Christian throughout her life.
5. She was the first woman to lead a major political party in the UK and was one of only three women to have had any kind of major office in government. She was elected Prime Minister of England on May 4, 1979 and it was expected that she would help reverse the economic turmoil that had plagued the country for several years. People believed that she was the right person for the job of stabilizing the economy and reversing the problems that had occurred.
6. She served a fairly long term in office and resigned her post as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on November 22, 1990. Many people believe that she served a successful term while others believe she did more harm than good for the country. Even after she left the House of Common, she stayed active in politics in the UK and was also active in various other places in the world.
7. She put her memoirs in two volumes and they were entitled The Path to Power and The Downing Street Years. In 1993, the second book, The Downing Street Years, was made into a documentary by the BBC and was seen by people all over the world.
8. Thatcher became a member of the House of Lords in 1992 and became a life peerage and was known as Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven in the County of Lincolnshire. Her political career was very long and successful. She will always be viewed as one of the most important female political leaders in the history of England and the UK.
9. Margaret Thatcher celebrated her 80th birthday on October 13, 2005. Many distinguished guests were in attendance including Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Alexandria.
10. Margaret Thatcher’s health has started to decline in recent years. In March of 2008, she was admitted to St Thomas Hospital and underwent tests for health concerns after she fell ill while she was attending a dinner for the House of Lords. In August of 2008, it was revealed that Margaret Thatcher had been suffering from dementia.
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