Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) - The future British prime minister was born Margaret Hilda Roberts in 1925 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, eastern England.

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Birthplace -

Her birthplace was here, above a grocer's store owned by her father.

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Oxford -

She studied chemistry at Somerville College, Oxford, and worked briefly as a research chemist, before becoming a barrister.

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First attempts to become an MP - In the 1950 and 1951 general elections she stood as a Conservative candidate for Dartford, but lost her parliamentary bid on both occasions.

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Marriage - In 1951, Margaret married Dennis Thatcher.

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Family life - The couple had two children, Mark and Carol.

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Beginning of political career - In the general election of 1959, Margaret Thatcher was elected as a Member of Parliament for Finchley.

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Cabinet role - From 1970 to 1974, she served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for the Education and Science under Prime Minister Edward Heath.

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Leader of the Conservative Party - In 1975, Thatcher was elected Conservative Party leader and Leader of the Opposition (Labour was in power at the time).

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Iron Lady - In 1976 during a speech, Thatcher lambasted the Soviet Union. As a result, the Communist press called her an "Iron Lady." The name stuck! Years later, relations between the UK and the USSR thawed. She's pictured in the 1980s with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

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First woman elected as UK Prime Minister - In 1979, she led the Conservative Party to victory in the general election, becoming the first woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

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Falklands War -

Her leadership was soon tested. In April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. Thatcher authorized and dispatched a naval task force to retake the islands. The military conflict lasted 10 weeks and ended with the surrender of the Argentine forces.

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Reelection - In 1983, Thatcher was reelected as Prime Minister, with the Conservatives winning a decisive victory. She's pictured outside 10 Downing Street with husband Dennis.

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Assassination attempt - In 1984, Thatcher narrowly escaped an assassination attempt after the IRA bombed the hotel she was staying in during the Conservative Party's annual conference in Brighton.

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The miners' strike - The miners' strike of 1984–85 pitched the Thatcher government against Arthur Scargill of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). The often violent industrial action saw running battles between police and striking miners.

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Special relationship - Throughout her premiership, Thatcher maintained a special relationship with the United States and President Ronald Reagan. They became close friends.

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Third victory and a political record - The Conservatives were elected for a third successive term in June 1987. Still sitting as premier, Thatcher was to become the longest-serving prime minister of the 20th century.

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Poll tax and growing discontent - In 1989, Thatcher introduced the poll tax, a single flat-rate per-capita tax levied on every adult. It proved hugely unpopular and prompted people across the UK to take to the streets in sometimes violent protest. Thatcher began to lose grass roots popularity, and eventually lost the confidence of her Cabinet.

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Resignation - In 1990, after a challenge to her leadership and much in-fighting within the Conservative Party, the Iron Lady stepped down as prime minister. She's pictured leaving Buckingham Palace after tending her resignation to the Queen.

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Still on the world stage - Despite her fall from grace, Margaret Thatcher remained active on the world stage. In 1991, she received the US Medal of Freedom, awarded by the President of the United States, George H.W. Bush.

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Baroness Thatcher - In 1992, she was honored by Queen Elizabeth II with the title of Baroness. In fact, her official title was Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven. This afforded her a seat in the House of Lords.

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Retirement from public life - After suffering several small strokes, she took her doctors' advice and retired from public life in 2002.

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Death of husband Dennis - The Iron Lady suffered a personal loss with the death of husband Dennis in June 2003. They had been married for almost 52 years.

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Death of Ronald Reagan - In 2004, she attended former US President Ronald Reagan's funeral. Thatcher commented that she'd lost a close friend.

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Controversy - In the same year, South African police arrested Thatcher's son Mark on allegations that he was involved in a plot to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea.

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Dementia - Confirming what many had suspected, Carol Thatcher (pictured) made public in 2005 that her mother was suffering from dementia.

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A Great Briton -

In 2008, Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron presented Thatcher with a lifetime achievement award at a 2008 Great Britons award ceremony.

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Putting on a brave face - But a now increasingly frail Thatcher continued to suffer from health issues. She's seen waving to journalists after a visit to the hospital.

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'The Iron Lady' - Hollywood paid its own tribute to the former prime minister by releasing 'The Iron Lady' (2011), starring Meryl Streep (pictured in a scene from the movie) in the title role. Streep would go on to win the Oscar for Best Actress.

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Death - Margaret Thatcher passed away on April 8, 2013, aged 87. Pictured: the coffin resting in the Crypt Chapel of St Mary Undercroft beneath the Houses of Parliament on the eve of her funeral on April 16.

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Funeral - The funeral cortege carrying the coffin of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher arrives at St Paul's Cathedral, London.

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Ashes interred -

Thatcher's ashes were interred in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, next to those of her husband.

See also: The best shows and movies about British politics

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