The Iron Lady

Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, the "Iron Lady" who shaped a generation of British politics, died following a stroke on Monday at the age of 87. The Iron Lady, who led Britain from 1979 to 1990, suffered from dementia and has appeared rarely in public in recent years. She was the only woman to hold this position in Great Britain and the first woman to become Prime-Minister in a European country. The Iron Lady had been in her position for the longest period in the 20th century.

African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela (R) is greeted by British Prime Minister Margarat Thatcher at 10 Downing Street on July 4, 1990. ©REUTERS

Mikhail Gorbachev, soviet Politburo member poses with British PM Margaret Thatcher at Chequers during his December 1984 visit to the UK. ©REUTERS

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Former British prime ministers Tony Blair (L) and Margaret Thatcher greet each other before the arrival of Pope Benedict at Westminster Hall in London September 17, 2010. ©REUTERS

Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, is visited by Britian's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (L) at Chitralada Palace in Bangkok August 8, 1988. ©REUTERS

A bronze statue of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher inside the Palace of Westminster, London. ©REUTERS

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Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko (L) poses for a photo with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in London September 20, 2007. ©REUTERS

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher pay her respects as the casket of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan lies in state in the rotunda of the United States Capitol in Washington, June 9, 2004. ©REUTERS

Baroness Thatcher poses with a copy of her new book at a launch attended by members of the British-American Chamber of Commerce November 25, 1997. ©REUTERS

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and husband Denis Thatcher outside her residence at 10 Downing Street. ©REUTERS

Raisa Gorbachev (L) and Margaret Thatcher wave goodbye , December 7th, 1993. ©REUTERS

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (L) and French President Francois Mitterrand pose for the media after a meeting about nuclear arms control at the Chateau de Benouville in Normandy, western France, March 23, 1987. ©REUTERS

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (R) is greeted by former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet and his wife Lucia at the house in Wentworth where he remains under house arrest, March 26, 1999. ©REUTERS

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Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher looks at the massive Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center as she takes a tour of the building on February 20, 2001. ©REUTERS

74th Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (R) accompanies former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as she leaves 10 Downing Street in London November 23, 2009. ©REUTERS

Former British Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher sits in the House of Lords for the State Opening of Parliament, London November 6, 2007. ©REUTERS

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