The One time leader of the Free World, and only woman. passed

[Stan]

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died today following a stroke, her spokeswoman confirmed.

Britain's only female prime minister, Thatcher served from 1979 to 1990 as leader of the Conservative Party. She was called the "Iron Lady" for her personal and political toughness.

Thatcher retired from public life after a stroke in 2002 and suffered several strokes after that.

[Naomi]

She made a difference ... she stood strong in her beliefs ... lessons for all to learn. RIP

[olger]

She was a good friend of Ronald Reagan and a champion of the free market.

[Stan]

Here are some quotes from Thatcher:

"Pennies don't fall from heaven - they have to be earned here on Earth." - Speech at Lord Mayor's Banquet in November 1979

Thatcher with Canadian PM Brian Mulroney (Photo: AP)

"Economics are the method; the object is to change the heart and soul." - Sunday Times interview, 1981

"Defeat - I do not recognise the meaning of the word!" - Thatcher's response when she was told, prior to the Falklands War, that there was a possibility Britain could lose the war.

"Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't."

"You know, if you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything, wouldn't you, at any time? And you would achieve nothing!" - Press Association interview on her 10th anniversary as PM, in March 1989

"It is not the creation of wealth that is wrong, but the love of money for its own sake."

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Thatcher refused to join 48 other Commonwealth countries, including Canada, in imposing sanctions against South Africa's apartheid regime.