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Europe
Margaret Thatcher
A pioneer for her sex, Margaret Thatcher was prime minister of the United Kingdom for almost 12 years. Take a look back at her life and career.
/ 34 PHOTOS


The chemist
24th January 1950: When not engaged in her political work in Dartford (Kent) where she is standing as Tory candidate, Miss Margaret Roberts, youngest candidate for the general election, is busy with her work as a research chemist. Margaret Roberts went on to become Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. (Photo by Chris Ware/Keystone Features/Getty Images)
— Chris Ware / Hulton Archive






The keys to Number 10
(FILES) - A picture dated May 4, 1979 shows the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher waving as she arrives to take office at No 10 Downing Street in London with her husband Denis (2nd L). Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, the \"Iron Lady\" who shaped a generation of British politics, died following a stroke on April 8, 2013 at the age of 87, her spokesman said. AFP PHOTO/FILES-/AFP/Getty Images
— - / AFP
Cuts opposed
4th December 1979: Marchers in a NUT (National Union of Teachers) demonstration in London against the education cuts propsed by the ILEA (Inner London Education Authority) Their Socialist Worker posters read, 'Stop The Mad Axewoman Fight The Cuts'. (The axewoman is leader of the Conservative party Margaret Thatcher). (Photo by Wesley/Keystone/Getty Images)
— Wesley / Hulton Archive


Maggie and Ronnie
VERSAILLES, FRANCE: Photo of the participants of the 8th summit of the Western industrialized countries that opened 04 June 1982 in Versailles. From left to right : president of European Commission Gaston Thorn, Japanese Prime Minister Senko Suzuki, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, US president Ronald Reagan, French president Frantois Mitterrand, West-German Chancelor Helmut Schmidt, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, president of Italian Council Giovanni Spadolini, and Belgian Prime Minister Wilfrid Martens. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read AFP/Getty Images)
— - / AFP
Hong Kong dilemma
BEIJING, CHINA - DECEMBER 19: Photo dated 19 December 1984 shows senior Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (L) meeting the then British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. The joint Sino-British declaration sealing Hong Kong's future was signed in 1984. N/B B/W (Photo credit should read PIERRE-ANTOINE DONNET/AFP/Getty Images)
— Pierre-antoine Donnet / AFP

Iron Lady, steel tank
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher stands in a British tank during a visit to British forces in Fallingbostel, some 120km (70 miles) south of Hamburg, Germany. on Sept. 17, 1986. Thatchers former spokesman, Tim Bell, said that the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had died Monday morning, April 8, 2013, of a stroke. She was 87.(AP Photo/Jockel Fink)
— Jockel Fink / AP
An example for women
** FILE ** Pakistan's opposition leader Benazir Bhutto walks with then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the rose garden at Chequers, Thatcher's country residence, in this July 8, 1989 file photo. Bhutto was assassinated Thursday Dec. 27, 2007, in a suicide attack that also killed at least 20 others at the end of a campaign rally, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. A party security adviser said Bhutto was shot in neck and chest as she got into her vehicle to leave the rally in Rawalpindi . A gunman then blew himself up.(AP Photo/pa-file) ** UNITED KINGDOM OUT: NO SALES: NO ARCHIVE: **
— PA
Stabbed in the back?
(FILES) - A picture dated Ocotber 13, 1989 shows then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher acknowledging applaud on at the end of the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool. Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, the \"Iron Lady\" who shaped a generation of British politics, died following a stroke on April 8, 2013 at the age of 87, her spokesman said. AFP PHOTO/FILES/JOHNNY EGGITTJOHNNY EGGITT/AFP/Getty Images
— Johnny Eggitt / AFP
Tearful departure
FILE - APRIL 8: Baroness Thatcher Dies Aged 87 - Later years and Miscellaneous British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher addresses the press outside Number 10, Downing Street after her resignation, 28th November 1990. Her husband Denis (1915 - 2003) stands at her side. (Photo by Tom Stoddart/Getty Images)
— Tom Stoddart Archive / Hulton Archive
Loyal ally
WENTWORTH, UNITED KINGDOM: Lady Thatcher (R) visits ex-Chilian President General Pinochet (C) and his wife at their temporary residence where the former dictator is under house arrest at Wentworth in Surrey, Friday 26 March 1999. (Photo credit should read POOL/AFP/Getty Images)
— Pool / AFP
Husband's passing
LONDON - JULY 3: Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (L) watches as the coffin of her husband Sir Denis Thatcher is taken from The Royal Hospital Chapel July 3, 2003 in London, England. Sir Denis died last week at aged 88, following a heart bypass in January 2003. (Photo by Ian Waldie/Getty Images)
— Ian Waldie / Getty Images Europe
Remembering 9/11
WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 11: Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (L), US Vice President Dick Cheney (C) and his wife Lynne Cheney (R) participate in a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House September 11, 2006 in Washington, DC. Cheney was joined by others to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States on the 5th anniversary of the attacks. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
— Brendan Smialowski / Getty Images North America
Did they coordinate?
London, UNITED KINGDOM: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, (Foreground) Baroness Thatcher, (L) Cherie Blair (2nd L) and Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair attend a church service to mark the 25th anniversary of the Falkland Islands' liberation at the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, Pangbourne College, Berkshire, 14 June 2007. Britain's leaders, war veterans and bereaved relatives marked the 25th anniversary of victory in the Falklands War Thursday, amid a mixture of celebration and sombre reflection. Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister Tony Blair and Baroness Margaret Thatcher, who was prime minister at the time, participated in a service marking the end of the conflict with Argentina over the South Atlantic islands. British soldiers entered the Falklands' capital Stanley on June 14, 1982, ending the 74-day occupation and a conflict which killed 649 Argentine and 255 British personnel and three islanders. AFP PHOT/Cathal McNaughton/WPA ROTA/PA (Photo credit should read Cathal McNaughton/AFP/Getty Images)
— Cathal Mcnaughton / AFP
Yes, that's me
London, UNITED KINGDOM: Former British prime minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher (C) stands with some of her former cabinet including her successor as leader of the Conservative Party John Major (R) in front of a newly unveiled bronze statue of herself, inside the Palace of Westminster, London, 21 February 2007. The unveiling of the 7ft 6in bronze by sculptor Antony Dufort occurred this evening in the Members' Lobby and Baroness Thatcher is the first living ex-Prime Minister to be honoured in such a way by the Commons AFP PHOTO/Johnny Green/POOL/PA Wire. (Photo credit should read JOHNNY GREEN/AFP/Getty Images)
— Johnny Green / AFP
The prince and the pensioners
LONDON - MARCH 25: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (3rd L) and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (3rd R) pose with Chelsea pensioners at the opening of the new Margaret Thatcher Infirmary at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on March 25, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Andrew Winning - WPA Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Margaret Thatcher;Prince Charles, Prince of Wales
— Wpa Pool / Getty Images Europe
Home from the hospital
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Baroness Thatcher waves from the front door of her home after returning from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital following an operation on her broken arm on June 29, 2009 in London, England. The former Prime Minister has had a pin placed in her shoulder after suffering a fall at home two weeks ago. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Baroness Thatcher
— Oli Scarff / Getty Images Europe

History-maker
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 1: (FILE PHOTO) Baroness Margaret Thatcher, 85, Britain's Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990, Reports on April 8, 2013 state that Baroness Thatcher has died following a stroke..
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher poses inside Number 10 Downing Street in London, England on April 01, 1984. (Photo by Express/Getty Images)
— Express / Hulton Archive1/34