Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has died at the age of 87, following a stroke.
Family spokesman Lord Tim Bell said Britain's only female prime minister died peacefully on Monday morning.
Thatcher was a tough, outspoken woman who led the Conservative Party to three election victories from 1979 to 1990. That was the longest continuous period in office by a British prime minister since the early 19th century.
Prime Minister David Cameron said Monday his country had "lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton." Buckingham Palace said Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was saddened to hear of her death.
Known as the Iron Lady for her personal and political toughness, Mrs. Thatcher was a stern conservative who broke the power of British unions, eliminated many government subsidies and enabled a far greater role for private enterprise.
She led Britain through its 1982 war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands, strongly opposed European integration and built a close "special relationship" with U.S. President Ronald Reagan that helped spur the downfall of Soviet communism.
Family spokesman Lord Tim Bell said Britain's only female prime minister died peacefully on Monday morning.
Thatcher was a tough, outspoken woman who led the Conservative Party to three election victories from 1979 to 1990. That was the longest continuous period in office by a British prime minister since the early 19th century.
Prime Minister David Cameron said Monday his country had "lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton." Buckingham Palace said Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was saddened to hear of her death.
Known as the Iron Lady for her personal and political toughness, Mrs. Thatcher was a stern conservative who broke the power of British unions, eliminated many government subsidies and enabled a far greater role for private enterprise.
She led Britain through its 1982 war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands, strongly opposed European integration and built a close "special relationship" with U.S. President Ronald Reagan that helped spur the downfall of Soviet communism.