BARONESS Margaret Thatcher died this morning at the age of 87, after suffering a stroke.
Here we take a look at how a grocer's daughter from Lincolnshire ended up in Number 10.
A young Margaret Roberts got her first taste of politics from her greengrocer father Alfred.
As well as running two shops in Grantham, Lincolnshire, Alfred was a Methodist
preacher and active in the local community.
An independent, with liberal leanings, he went onto become Mayor of Grantham from 1945 to 1946.
By this time Margaret was studying Chemistry at Oxford University and developing a passion for politics herself.
The same year her dad was ousted from Grantham Town Hall, Margaret was elected
president of the Oxford University Conservative Association.
She was spotted as a future prospect by Tory bigwigs during a party conference in Wales.
They fast-tracked her to compete for the safe Labour seat of Dartford at the tender age of 25.
She lost at both general elections in 1950 and 1951, but took a big chunk out of the Labour majority, further impressing party leaders.
he same year she tasted a second defeat in Dartford, Margaret married businessman Denis Thatcher.
Starting a theme that would prevail through her career, Denis became Margaret's 'rock', supporting her as she trained to become a barrister.
And again when she returned to politics in 1959 - finally elected as the Member of Parliament for Finchley in London.
And Denis was by Margaret's side when she was handed the keys to Number 10 two decades later.
The rising star of the Conservatives made a successful bid for the party leadership after they were ousted from office in 1974.
She then swept to power in 1979 becoming Britain's first female PM.
Margaret Thatcher's time in power is defined by a number of major events,
which would shape the face of Britain.
First came the Falklands War in 1982.
The Prime Minister acted swifty to declare war on Argentina, after the South American country occupied the British south Atlantic territory.
Her decisive action, as well as her fierce attack of Communist Soviet Union, earned her the nickname 'The Iron Lady', a monicker that would stick with her until her death.
In 1984 she would live up to the name when she survived the IRA bombing of Brighton's Grand Hotel where the Conservative Party conference was taking place.
Five people were killed in the blast, but Margaret and Denis escaped unscathed and were dramatically lead from the rubble.
Her reign will also be defined by her committment to privatisation and reducing the power of the trade unions.
In 1984 she closed down 20 coal mines, putting 20,000 miners out of work.
In protest, two-thirds of the country's miners downed their tools.
But Mrs Thatcher refused to negotiate with union leader Arthur Scargill, resulting in a bitter and violent year-long strike.
While she was making enemies a home, the PM was better at making friends abroad.
United in their hatred of ccommunism, she formed a close friendship with
American president Ronald Reagan.
The pair made regular transatlantic trips, and relations between the two countries have never been stronger.
n one of her final act as PM, Mrs Thatcher showed her appetite for the controversial once more, by unveiling a new poll tax.
The flat-rate tax for all adults was vastly unpopular, particularly among the working classes, and it lead to angry riots across the UK.
It was quietly replaced with the council tax, a year after she left office.
Mrs Thatcher remained a backbench MP for two years after she left Number 10 - serving under new leader John Major - before leaving the Commons, aged 66.
She was made a Baroness by the Queen after retiring from her seat and became regular fixture in the House of Lords.
She wrote two memoirs and continued to play a role in politics, controversially supporting former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, citing his support of Britain during the Falklands.
In recent years, Baroness Thatcher's public appearances have been rare, as she battled with dementia.
She made her last public appearance to celebrate her 87th birthday in October 2012.
More Pictures After the cut...
Political figures from around the world have paid tribute to Britain's first
and only female PM.
Here we take a look at how a grocer's daughter from Lincolnshire ended up in Number 10.
A young Margaret Roberts got her first taste of politics from her greengrocer father Alfred.
As well as running two shops in Grantham, Lincolnshire, Alfred was a Methodist preacher and active in the local community.
An independent, with liberal leanings, he went onto become Mayor of Grantham from 1945 to 1946.
By this time Margaret was studying Chemistry at Oxford University and developing a passion for politics herself.
The same year her dad was ousted from Grantham Town Hall, Margaret was elected president of the Oxford University Conservative Association.
She was spotted as a future prospect by Tory bigwigs during a party conference in Wales.
They fast-tracked her to compete for the safe Labour seat of Dartford at the tender age of 25.
She lost at both general elections in 1950 and 1951, but took a big chunk out of the Labour majority, further impressing party leaders.
he same year she tasted a second defeat in Dartford, Margaret married businessman Denis Thatcher.
Starting a theme that would prevail through her career, Denis became Margaret's 'rock', supporting her as she trained to become a barrister.
And again when she returned to politics in 1959 - finally elected as the Member of Parliament for Finchley in London.
And Denis was by Margaret's side when she was handed the keys to Number 10 two decades later.
The rising star of the Conservatives made a successful bid for the party leadership after they were ousted from office in 1974.
She then swept to power in 1979 becoming Britain's first female PM.
Margaret Thatcher's time in power is defined by a number of major events, which would shape the face of Britain.
First came the Falklands War in 1982.
The Prime Minister acted swifty to declare war on Argentina, after the South American country occupied the British south Atlantic territory.
Her decisive action, as well as her fierce attack of Communist Soviet Union, earned her the nickname 'The Iron Lady', a monicker that would stick with her until her death.
In 1984 she would live up to the name when she survived the IRA bombing of Brighton's Grand Hotel where the Conservative Party conference was taking place.
Five people were killed in the blast, but Margaret and Denis escaped unscathed and were dramatically lead from the rubble.
Her reign will also be defined by her committment to privatisation and reducing the power of the trade unions.
In 1984 she closed down 20 coal mines, putting 20,000 miners out of work.
In protest, two-thirds of the country's miners downed their tools.
But Mrs Thatcher refused to negotiate with union leader Arthur Scargill, resulting in a bitter and violent year-long strike.
While she was making enemies a home, the PM was better at making friends abroad.
United in their hatred of ccommunism, she formed a close friendship with American president Ronald Reagan.
The pair made regular transatlantic trips, and relations between the two countries have never been stronger.
n one of her final act as PM, Mrs Thatcher showed her appetite for the controversial once more, by unveiling a new poll tax.
The flat-rate tax for all adults was vastly unpopular, particularly among the working classes, and it lead to angry riots across the UK.
It was quietly replaced with the council tax, a year after she left office.
Mrs Thatcher remained a backbench MP for two years after she left Number 10 - serving under new leader John Major - before leaving the Commons, aged 66.
She was made a Baroness by the Queen after retiring from her seat and became regular fixture in the House of Lords.
She wrote two memoirs and continued to play a role in politics, controversially supporting former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, citing his support of Britain during the Falklands.
In recent years, Baroness Thatcher's public appearances have been rare, as she battled with dementia.
She made her last public appearance to celebrate her 87th birthday in October 2012.
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