Margaret Thatcher was Britain’s longest serving prime minister of the 20th century. She dominated politics in her own country for a decade and carved out for herself a formidable position on the world stage.

Margaret Thatcher was born Margaret Hilda Roberts on October the 13th, 1925 in central England. She was made head girl of her school and won a scholarship to Oxford University.

She joined the Conservative Party before graduating in 1947. Thatcher won her first parliamentary seat in 1959 and served as minister of Education under Edward Heath, prime minister from 1970 to 1974.

She came to power in a general election on May 3, 1979 defeating Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan by a margin of 43 seats.

"Where there is discord may be bring harmony, where there is error may be bring truth, where there is doubt may we bring faith and where there is despair may be bring hope," Thatcher said.

Britain’s first woman prime minister launched straight into a program of social and economic reform.

Inflation was reined in by fierce financial belt-tightening and loss-making state monopolies were privatized.

Despite inexperience in foreign affairs, she became a major international figure, particularly through close ties with US President Ronald Reagan.

In June 1987, her third successive general election victory gave her a huge 101-seat majority and set another record in British politics.

But a new local government poll tax introduced in April 1990 sparked protests throughout the country.

Thatcher’s intolerance of dissent and imperious manner finally led to her dramatic downfall.

"I am still at the crease though the bowling’s been pretty hostile of late," she said.

On November 28, 1990, she left the official prime minister’s residence, 10 Downing Street.

She was given a seat in Britain’s upper chamber in 1992 when she was made Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven.

In 1995 she was appointed to the Order of the Garter, Britain’s oldest and highest order of chivalry.

In early 2002, ill health forced Thatcher to pull out of public life.

Thatcher announced she would retire from public speaking, but continued to attend debates in the House of Lords.