35 moments

1. Birth in Grantham

   1925-10-13 · Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom

   Margaret Hilda Roberts was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, beginning a life that would lead to leadership of the Conservative Party and the British government. Coordinates are a representative point for Grantham; the source does not identify the exact birth building.

2. Chemistry student at Somerville

   1943-10-01 · Somerville College, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom

   Roberts entered Oxford to study chemistry at Somerville College, the formative academic setting of her early adult life.

3. Research chemist in Colchester

   1947-01-01 · Colchester, Essex, England, United Kingdom

   After graduating, Roberts relocated to Colchester to work as a research chemist for British Xylonite, later BX Plastics. Coordinates represent Colchester because the cited text does not specify the firm's precise site.

4. Conservative Party conference delegate

   1948-01-01 · Llandudno, Conwy, Wales, United Kingdom

   Roberts attended the Conservative Party conference in Llandudno as a University Graduate Conservative Association representative, an early documented national political appearance. The available source supports the year, but not a more precise date.

5. Finchley campaign speech

   1959-03-12 · Hendon Hall Hotel, Hendon, London, England, United Kingdom

   As prospective Conservative candidate for Finchley and Friern Barnet, Thatcher addressed the local Women's Advisory Committee at Hendon Hall Hotel. The source lists the venue as Hendon Hall Hotel and dates the event 12 March 1959.

6. Adopted as Finchley candidate

   1959-09-21 · Conservative Hall, 267 Ballards Lane, Finchley, London, England, United Kingdom

   Thatcher appeared at her formal adoption meeting as Conservative candidate for the Finchley Division in the 1959 general election.

7. Residence at Farnborough

   1959-10-01 · Farnborough, Bromley, London, England, United Kingdom

   Soon after becoming Finchley's MP, Thatcher was documented as living at Farnborough, Kent, with her family while concentrating on politics. The source is dated 16 October 1959; coordinates represent Farnborough, Kent rather than an identified house.

8. Visit to Leningrad

   1969-01-01 · Leningrad, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Soviet Union

   As opposition transport spokeswoman, Thatcher made her first visit to the Soviet Union and visited an English school in Leningrad. The source supports only the year and city; coordinates are a representative city point.

9. Meeting President Ford

   1975-09-18 · White House, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

   

   As Conservative leader, Thatcher visited Washington and met President Gerald Ford in the Oval Office during a United States tour.

10. National Press Club address

    1975-09-19 · National Press Club, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    

    Thatcher delivered a major speech about Britain and Conservative policy during her Washington visit. The archival document is dated 19 September 1975 and identifies the venue as Washington DC.

11. Visit to Iran

    1978-05-01 · British Embassy, Tehran, Iran

    Thatcher concluded a three-day Iranian visit with a press conference at the British Embassy in Tehran, during her leadership of the opposition. The source identifies the venue as the British Embassy, Tehran.

12. Arrival at Downing Street

    1979-05-04 · 10 Downing Street, Westminster, London, England, United Kingdom

    

    After being asked by Queen Elizabeth II to form an administration, Thatcher arrived at 10 Downing Street as Britain's first woman prime minister. Her engagement diary records arrival at 1600.

13. First Reagan White House visit

    1981-02-26 · White House, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    

    Thatcher made an official Washington visit and held private and expanded meetings with President Ronald Reagan at the White House. The White House schedule records the meeting in the Oval Office on 26 February 1981.

14. Arrival in the Falklands

    1983-01-08 · RAF Stanley, Stanley, Falkland Islands

    Six months after the Falklands War, Thatcher arrived at RAF Stanley for her first visit to the islands as prime minister. The source identifies the venue as RAF Stanley; coordinates represent the Stanley airfield area.

15. Falklands battlefield visit

    1983-01-10 · Goose Green, Lafonia, Falkland Islands

    Thatcher visited sites associated with the 1982 campaign, including Fitzroy, Goose Green, and San Carlos Bay, and laid wreaths at military cemeteries. Coordinates identify Goose Green, one of several distinct places visited that day.

16. Interview at Government House

    1983-01-11 · Government House, Stanley, Falkland Islands

    During the Falklands visit, Thatcher gave an interview to Penguin News at Government House in Port Stanley. The archival interview is dated 11 January 1983.

17. Brighton conference address

    1984-10-12 · Brighton Conference Centre, Brighton, England, United Kingdom

    Later on the day of the Brighton bombing, Thatcher returned to the Conservative Party conference and delivered its keynote address.

18. Survived Brighton bombing

    1984-10-12 · Brighton Police Station, Brighton, England, United Kingdom

    

    After the bomb attack at the Grand Hotel, Thatcher left the hotel and reached Brighton Police Station, where she gave a BBC interview.

19. Sino-British Joint Declaration

    1984-12-19 · Beijing, China

    Thatcher was in Peking to sign the Sino-British Joint Declaration with Premier Zhao Ziyang on Hong Kong's future. The quote was delivered in Hong Kong on 20 December 1984 and directly identifies the preceding day's signing in Peking; coordinates represent central Beijing.

20. Hong Kong press conference

    1984-12-21 · Central Government Offices, Hong Kong

    Following the Beijing agreement, Thatcher held her final public engagement in Hong Kong before departing for home.

21. Bruges speech

    1988-09-20 · Belfry of Bruges, Bruges, Belgium

    Thatcher delivered the Bruges speech to the College of Europe, a major statement of her opposition to further European political centralisation.

22. Royal Society climate speech

    1988-09-27 · Fishmongers' Hall, City of London, England, United Kingdom

    Thatcher addressed the Royal Society on climate change and environmental policy at its annual dinner in Fishmongers' Hall.

23. UN General Assembly address

    1989-11-08 · United Nations Headquarters, New York City, New York, United States

    Thatcher spoke to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on the global environment.

24. Bermuda summit visit

    1990-04-12 · Bermudan Prime Minister's Official Residence, Bermuda

    

    Thatcher made a visit to Bermuda, met the Bermudan Cabinet, and attended a dinner at the prime minister's official residence ahead of talks with President George H. W. Bush. Coordinates represent Government House area; the archival venue is described as the Bermudan Prime Minister's Official Residence.

25. Opened the Hadley Centre

    1990-05-25 · Bracknell, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom

    Thatcher opened the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research in Bracknell, linking its work to her prior Royal Society and UN environmental speeches. The source identifies the venue as Bracknell; coordinates are a representative point for the former Met Office/Hadley Centre locality.

26. Departure from Downing Street

    1990-11-28 · 10 Downing Street, Westminster, London, England, United Kingdom

    After resigning as prime minister and Conservative leader, Thatcher left 10 Downing Street on her final day in office.

27. Moved to Chester Square

    1991-01-01 · Chester Square, Belgravia, London, England, United Kingdom

    After leaving office, Thatcher and Denis Thatcher moved to a house at Chester Square in Belgravia. Coordinates represent Chester Square rather than the undisclosed house number.

28. National Press Club memoir speech

    1995-06-26 · National Press Club, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    Thatcher returned to Washington to speak at the National Press Club about her memoir The Path to Power and her political career before becoming prime minister. The archival speech is dated 26 June 1995.

29. Tour of Kennedy Space Center

    2001-01-01 · Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida, United States

    

    Thatcher toured Kennedy Space Center during a later-life visit to the United States. The available source supports the year but not a more precise date.

30. Pentagon memorial visit

    2006-01-01 · The Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, United States

    Thatcher attended Washington's official fifth-anniversary memorial observance for the 11 September attacks and met senior US officials during the visit. The source supports the year and identifies a Washington memorial visit; coordinates identify the Pentagon shown in the associated event context.

31. Parliamentary statue unveiling

    2007-02-21 · Palace of Westminster, London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Thatcher attended the unveiling of her statue in the Houses of Parliament and spoke in the House of Commons Members' Lobby.

32. Admission to St Thomas' Hospital

    2008-03-07 · St Thomas' Hospital, London, England, United Kingdom

    After collapsing at a House of Lords dinner, Thatcher was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital for tests.

33. Return to Downing Street

    2009-11-01 · 10 Downing Street, Westminster, London, England, United Kingdom

    Thatcher returned to 10 Downing Street for the unveiling of an official portrait by Richard Stone. The source supports November 2009, described as late November, but not a day.

34. Last House of Lords sitting

    2010-07-19 · Palace of Westminster, London, England, United Kingdom

    Thatcher made her final recorded attendance at a sitting of the House of Lords.

35. Death at the Ritz

    2013-04-08 · The Ritz London, Piccadilly, London, England, United Kingdom

    Thatcher died in London after suffering a stroke, while staying in a suite at the Ritz Hotel.