Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher was a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and led the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. The first woman to hold the premiership, she was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century. Her government pursued policies known as Thatcherism, including privatisation, reduced trade union influence and financial-market deregulation. She resigned in 1990 after a leadership challenge.

Prime minister

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1979 to 1990

Party leadership

Leader of the Conservative Party, 1975 to 1990

Distinction

First woman to hold the office of prime minister