Margaret Hilda Thatcher is the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister in Great Britain. She was born Margaret Hilda Roberts in Grantham, Lincolnshire and studied at Oxford University, where she gained a degree in chemistry. After graduating she worked as a chemical researcher from 1947 to 1951. She married Denis Thatcher in 1951 and in 1953, after studying to be a lawyer, she became a tax lawyer. Thatcher joined the Conservative Party and was elected to the House of Commons in 1959. She defeated Edward Heath for the minority leadership of the party in 1974, and then led the Conservative Party to victory in 1979. Thatcher is the only British prime minister in 20th century to serve three consecutive terms. In 1990, controversy over Thatcher's fiscal policy and her reluctance to commit Britain to full economic integration with Europe inspired a strong challenge to her leadership. Mrs Thatcher was ousted from the leadership and resigned in November 1990 and was succeeded as party leader and prime minister by her protégé, John Major: who, as a result, served only a short term. Margaret Hilda Roberts was born on October 13, 1925 to Beatrice and Alfred Roberts in the apartment above her parents' small grocery store. Margaret's father had the greatest influence in Margaret's life, both politically, religiously and socially. Alfred Roberts arrived in Grantham during the First World War where he met and married Beatrice Stevenson. "The young couple worked hard and saved money with passion. Soon Alfred opened his own grocery store and eventually owned two." (Mayer,1979) Alfred often discussed current events and also his deeply held political beliefs with his two daughters. Margaret's father had a considerable effect on her political beliefs. Although he had previously been a member of the Liberal party, he won a seat on the local city council as an independent, which basically meant conservative. He held this position for twenty-five years and later became the chairman of the finance committee. “In the 1940s he was selected for the largely honorary but still prestigious position of Mayor of Grantham.” (Mayer, 1979) When asked what role her father had played in her life, Margaret responded that “of course I owe almost everything to my… father, and things… middle of the paper… . ...chosen as a shadow cabinet power minister, "eighteen months later, she got the transport portfolio, and a year later she got education." reasons for her rapid rise are not immediately discernible. Conservative journalist Ferdinand Mount has suggested that she might be considered the Evita of the Conservative party, she wrote recently, she has risen so quickly not despite but because of her sex It was not so much her talent as the chronic shortage of female Conservative MPs that ensured her rapid promotion." (Mayer, 1979) But according to one of Mrs Thatcher's speeches given at the time aReferences Lewis, R. (1975). Margaret Thatcher: A Personal and Political Biography Southampton: The Camelot Press Ltd.. Mayer, A. (1979): Margaret Thatcher and her Rise to Power: Newsweek Books. M (1987). Thatcherism: personality and politics. New York: S. Martin's Press, Inc.. Thatcher, M. (1995). Iron Lady London: Macmillan.