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Lady Thatcher attended St Hilda's College, [[Oxford University|Oxford]], where she read chemistry. After graduating, she worked for a time as a research chemist before going to tbe Bar and practising as a [[tax]] lawyer, an indication of her interest in financial matters. She married Dennis Thatcher, a successful business man, whom she met at a Conservative Party meeting. They had 2 children, twins [[Mark Thatcher|Mark]] and [[Carol Thatcher|Carol]].

Lady Thatcher attended St Hilda's College, [[Oxford University|Oxford]], where she read chemistry. After graduating, she worked for a time as a research chemist before going to tbe Bar and practising as a [[tax]] lawyer, an indication of her interest in financial matters. She married Dennis Thatcher, a successful business man, whom she met at a Conservative Party meeting. They had 2 children, twins [[Mark Thatcher|Mark]] and [[Carol Thatcher|Carol]].

Under the premiership of [[Edward Heath]] (1970-1974), Thatcher served as Secretary of State for Education. After the Conservatives were defeated in the elections of February and October 1974, Thatcher challenged the more liberal Heath for the leadership of the party. Though at the time she was a relatively untested figure (and many in the party were wary of choosing a woman leader), she defeated both Heath and her other male rivals in the contest.

Under the premiership of [[Edward Heath]] (1970-1974), Thatcher served as Secretary of State for Education. After the Conservatives were defeated in the elections of February and October 1974, Thatcher challenged the more liberal Heath for the leadership of the party. When she went into Heath's office to tell him her decision, he did not even bother to look up. "You'll lose," he said. "Good day to you." [http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/thatcher.html]

 

Though at the time she was a relatively untested figure (and many in the party were wary of choosing a woman leader), she defeated both Heath and her other male rivals in the contest.

In the 1970s, her strongly conservative, pro-capitalist stance resonated with a new mood among the British electorate, many of whom had become dissatisfied with the post-[[World War II]] liberal consensus (the "post-war consensus", sometimes also called "Butskellism"). Thatcher and the Conservatives offered a clear alternative vision for an increasingly aspirational society.

In the 1970s, her strongly conservative, pro-capitalist stance resonated with a new mood among the British electorate, many of whom had become dissatisfied with the post-[[World War II]] liberal consensus (the "post-war consensus", sometimes also called "Butskellism"). Thatcher and the Conservatives offered a clear alternative vision for an increasingly aspirational society.