Britain Magazine | The official magazine of Visit Britain | Best of British History, Royal Family,Travel and Culture - British prime ministers of the 20th century Latest issue British prime ministers of the 20th century Do you know who presided over the setting up of the National Health Service, or who served the shortest time as leader? Read our timeline of British prime ministers of the 20th century for all the answers. Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 3rd Marquess of Salisbury Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 3rd Marquess of Salisbury Conservative 1895 to 1902 Salisbury was the last peer to serve as PM (this was his third tenure), with the brief exception of Douglas Home (below) who renounced his peerage within a few days of being appointed. Arthur James Balfour Conservative 1902 to 1905 Balfour was the nephew of the Marquess of Salisbury but his cabinet was divided on the issue of free trade and without the support of Edward VII he was forced to resign in December 1905.

Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman Liberal 1905 to 1908 Following Arthur James Balfour’s resignation, Edward VII invited the leader of the next largest party, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, to form a government. He was the first leader to officially use the title of ‘Prime Minister’. Herbert Henry Asquith Liberal 1908 to 1916 Asquith is the only Prime Minister to have taken office on foreign soil. At the time that he succeeded Campbell-Bannerman, Edward VII was in Biarritz so Asquith travelled there for the official ‘kissing-hands’ ceremony. David Lloyd George in 1916 David Lloyd George Liberal 1916 to 1922 One of the 20th centuries most radical thinkers, Lloyd George was the first and only Welshman to hold the position of prime minister, introducing state pensions and waging a war on poverty. Andrew Bonar Law Conservative 1922 to 1923 Law was prime minister for just 209 days. He retired due to ill health in May 1923 and died of throat cancer six months later.

Stanley Baldwin Conservative 1923 to 1924 Baldwin took over as prime minister after Bonar Law retired but he was soon ousted from his first term, albeit temporarily. James Ramsey MacDonald Labour 1924 to 1924 In 1924 Ramsey MacDonald was asked by King George V to form a government when Stanley Baldwin’s Conservative majority proved ungovernable, and his was the first Labour government. Stanley Baldwin Conservative 1924 to 1929 In his second tenure as prime minister Baldwin extended the right to vote to women over 21. James Ramsey MacDonald Labour 1929 to 1935 In his second minority government in 1929, MacDonald appointed Margaret Bondfield as the first female cabinet minister, but forming a cross-party government proved his downfall. Stanley Baldwin Conservative 1935 to 1937 By taking office as prime minister for the third time Baldwin remarkably served under three monarchs. Neville Chamberlain Conservative 1937 to 1940 Chamberlain famously declared “I believe it is peace for our time” following a meeting in 1938 with Adolf Hitler.

Sir Winston Churchill Conservative 1940 to 1945 Following Chamberlain’s resignation in 1940, Churchill succeeded him as prime minister of an all-party coalition government. Clement Attlee Labour 1945 to 1951 Taking over from Churchill at the end of the war, Attlee is perhaps best remembered for setting up the National Health Service. Winston Churchill gives his infamous V sign on 20 May 1940 Sir Winston Churchill Conservative 1951 to 1955 While serving his second term as prime minister Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 for his many published works. Sir Anthony Eden Conservative 1955 to 1957 Eden is best remembered for his controversial handling of the Suez Crisis, which led to his resignation. Harold Macmillan Conservative 1957 to 1963 Macmillian took over as leader following Eden’s resignation and led the nation through the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was made Earl of Stockton in 1984 and died in 1986.

Sir Alex Douglas-Home Conservative 1963 to 1964 The aristocratic Douglas-Home took on the trade unions but only served as prime minister for 363 days , the second shortest premiership in the 20th century. Harold Wilson Labour 1964 to 1970 Wilson won his first election in 1964 but he actually visited 10 Downing Street many years before, when he was eight-years-old, so his aspirations began early. Sir Edward Heath Conservative 1970 to 1974 Grammar school educated Heath served in the Second World War, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Harold Wilson Labout 1974 to 1976 Wilson famously rebuffed a schoolboy who threw a stinkbomb at him by saying “with an arm like that he ought to be in the English Cricket XI.” James Callaghan Labour 1976 to 1979 Callaghan is the only prime minster to have also held the three offices of Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary. Margaret Thatcher in 1982.

University of Salford Press Office Baroness Margaret Thatcher Conservative 1979 to 1990 A formidable leader or a tyrant? Britain’s first woman prime minister divided opinion like none before her, and she passed away in 2013. Sir John Major Conservative 1990 to 1997 From his humble beginnings as the son of a former music hall star, Major was reportedly inspired to become a politician after watching Harold Macmillan present his only budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Tony Blair Labour 1997 to 2007 Blair was the longest serving Labour prime minister and although he initiated reforms in the House of Commons, he was criticised for his involvement in the Iraq War. Gordon Brown Labour 2007 to 2010 Brown’s appointment caused controversy as he wasn’t actually elected, but he oversaw the withdrawal of troops from Iraq and the devolution of powers in Northern Ireland. Jan. 3, 1988: Becomes Britain's longest continuously serving prime minister of 20th century.

/celebs/celeb-themes/farewell-margaret-thatcher/eventshow/19529579.cms 13 October 1984: Survives an IRA bomb assassination attempt. This is a March 10, 1983 file photo of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher examining a minefield during her visit to the Falkland Islands when the Royal Engineers took her on a tour of the Rookery Bay beach, a heavily mined area in the Falklands. October 1984: Survives an IRA bomb assassination attempt. This is a March 10, 1983 file photo of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher examining a minefield during her visit to the Falkland Islands when the Royal Engineers took her on a tour of the Rookery Bay beach, a heavily mined area in the Falklands. (AP/STR) /celebs/celeb-themes/farewell-margaret-thatcher/eventshow/19529543.cms 15 June 11, 1987: Wins third term.

Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher gives a jubilant wave from the stairs inside her Conservative party headquarters in London early in this June 12, 1987 file photo, after sweeping back to power for a third consecutive term of office after the general election. June 11, 1987: Wins third term. Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher gives a jubilant wave from the stairs inside her Conservative party headquarters in London early in this June 12, 1987 file photo, after sweeping back to power for a third consecutive term of office after the general election. (Reuters) Jan. 3, 1988: Becomes Britain's longest continuously serving prime minister of 20th century. Jan. 3, 1988: Becomes Britain's longest continuously serving prime minister of 20th century.

(AP/Gerald Penny) See more of : Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher See more of : Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher /celebs/celeb-themes/farewell-margaret-thatcher/rtf1ansiansicpg1252deff0deflang1033fonttblf0fnilfcharset0-Arial-Unicode-MScolortbl-red0green0blue0viewkind4uc1pardcf1f0fs20-Farewell-Margaret-Thatcherpar/eventshow/19529298.cms 17 Nov. 22, 1990: Announces resignation after party revolt. Margaret Thatcher makes a statement to reporters as Denis Thatcher listens, as she leaves No. 10 Downing Street, Westminster in a Wednesday, Nov. 28, 1990 file photo, for Buckingham Palace where she will resign as Prime Minister to Queen Elizabeth II. Nov. 22, 1990: Announces resignation after party revolt. Margaret Thatcher makes a statement to reporters as Denis Thatcher listens, as she leaves No. 10 Downing Street, Westminster in a Wednesday, Nov.

28, 1990 file photo, for Buckingham Palace where she will resign as Prime Minister to Queen Elizabeth II. (AP/Martin Cleaver) See more of : Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher Nov. 22, 1990: Announces resignation after party revolt. Margaret Thatcher makes a statement to reporters as Denis Thatcher listens, as she leaves No. 10 Downing Street, Westminster in a Wednesday, Nov. 28, 1990 file photo, for Buckingham Palace where she will resign as Prime Minister to Queen Elizabeth II. (AP/Martin Cleaver) See more of : Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher /celebs/celeb-themes/farewell-margaret-thatcher/eventshow/19529335.cms 18 Nov. 28, 1990: John Major succeeds her as prime minister. In the same year, Thatcher is awarded the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II. Nov. 28, 1990: John Major succeeds her as prime minister. In the same year, Thatcher is awarded the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II. (AFP/ADAM BUTLER) See more of : Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher Nov.

28, 1990: John Major succeeds her as prime minister. In the same year, Thatcher is awarded the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II. (AFP/ADAM BUTLER) See more of : Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher /celebs/celeb-themes/farewell-margaret-thatcher/eventshow/19529144.cms 19 1991: Receives U.S. Medal of Freedom from President George H.W. Bush. A picture dated March 7, 1991 shows former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (L) smiling as she chats with US President George Bush in the White House Oval Office in Washington before receiving the medal of Freedom in an East Room ceremony. 1991: Receives U.S. Medal of Freedom from President George H.W. Bush. A picture dated March 7, 1991 shows former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (L) smiling as she chats with US President George Bush in the White House Oval Office in Washington before receiving the medal of Freedom in an East Room ceremony.

(AFP/Luke Frazza) BBC NEWS | UK | Politics | Long serving prime ministers Long serving prime ministers Tony Blair passed record for Labour on 2 August Tony Blair became Labour's longest continuously serving prime minister on 2 August. His years in Number 10 may be a landmark but he has a long way to go if he wants to compete with the longevity of some of his Downing Street predecessors. Sir Robert Walpole. Walpole was effectively prime minister - but without the title - for 21 years from 1721-42. He was the first premier to live and work out of Number 10 Downing Street. Eton and Cambridge educated he inherited a country estate aged 24 and was able to finance a political career entering Parliament as a Whig MP. Low points included a six month spell in the Tower of London for accepting an illegal payment when Secretary of War. He was credited with reducing the national debt and stabilising prices and his longevity in office can in no small part be explained by his popularity with the king. Henry Pelham Another Whig prime minister who held office from 1743 to 1754 - a total of 11 years.

Pelham was a friend of Walpole and served as his Lord of the Treasury. He led the country during the war of Austrian succession and made a failed attempt to strengthen the rights of British Jews. Lord North The Tory premier ruled for 12 years from 1770 - 1782 having previously been a chancellor of the exchequer. North was deeply loyal to King George III and was prime minister during the American war of independence which lost the UK its colony. Although the king himself insisted upon the war, North has been blamed for tactical errors that led to heavy British losses. North tried to resign but was not allowed to leave Downing Street until after the war. William Pitt Pitt the Younger - as he was also known - served as prime minister for 20 years between 1783-1801 and 1804-1806 first taking the top job at the age of 24. The year before he had served as chancellor and leader of the Commons. Pitt's earlier years as prime minister were dogged by parliamentary defeats as he tried to water down the influence of the monarchy and tackle corruption.

But his popularity rose over time and, following a huge election victory in 1784, he set about reducing the national debt. The following year his bid to tackle rotten boroughs and introduce a union with Ireland bill caused him to have a rockier ride. King George III's mental illness also put his premiership under pressure. Lord Liverpool Liverpool's premiership lasted from 1812 until 1827 with his initial rise to power following on from the assassination of Spencer Perceval. Despite being quiet and private - not characteristics that chime very much with politicians in the modern world - he won four elections and was one of the longest serving prime ministers. His time in power saw the death of George III and the end of the Napoleonic wars. The Tory premier was anti-democratic reform and controversially he defended the authorities who carried out the Peterloo massacre. He quit office after a stroke and in 1827 and died the following year. Lord Palmerston Palmerston had two spells in the top job: from 1855-8 and from 1859-65.

He started off as a Tory but his support for Catholic emancipation and parliamentary reform led to his defection to the Whigs. A long-serving foreign secretary under Earl Grey, Palmerston's somewhat confrontational style led him into occasional difficulties. He finally lost his job when he mobilised the British navy against Greece in defence of a UK citizen. His ascent to Number 10 came when he succeeded Lord Aberdeen who was blamed for the disasters of the Crimean war. Palmerston ended the war and was prime minister for eight years before dying in office aged 80. Benjamin Disraeli Disraeli first became prime minister in 1868 and then once again between 1874 and 1880. He tried to extend male suffrage to the working classes during the 1860s and was invited to be prime minister by Queen Victoria in 1868. Tory Disraeli was one half of the greatest political rivalry of that era and one of the greatest parliamentary rivalries of all time competing with Whig leader William Gladstone.

William Gladstone Gladstone had three spells as prime minister: from 1868-74, 1880-85 and 1892-94. Gladstone had a tricky relationship with Queen Victoria Queen Victoria - who had enjoyed a close relationship with Disraeli - complained that Gladstone addressed her "as though I were at a public meeting". The man most Liberals look back to as their hero in fact began life as a Tory opposed to the abolition of slavery and democratic electoral reform. Gradually his political perspective changed when he became increasingly in favour of free trade and against the protectionism associated with the Tory Party. His time as chancellor has been credited by many as the moment when that role became central to British governments. His instincts were tax-lowering although the cost of the Crimean war forced him to reverse his own income tax cuts. He was also converted to the view that voting rights should be extended to as many men as were deemed fit. Lord Salisbury Salisbury took over the Tory Party following Disraeli's death in 1881 and was prime minister between 1885-6, 1886-92 and 1895-1902.

As well as being the last serving prime minister to sit in the House of Lords, Salisbury introduced free primary education and policies aimed at strengthening local government. Salisbury's tenure saw the dawning of the 20th century during which prime minister ships tended to last much shorter periods. Liberal Herbert Asquith chalked up eight years in Downing Street and Tory Stanley Baldwin managed just over seven years. Winston Churchill was prime minister for more than eight years. Labour's Clement Attlee managed to win two elections and was prime minister for six years. Margaret Thatcher Thatcher will be remembered as the first woman prime minister and as a leader whose premiership was characterised by controversy. Margaret Thatcher was the first woman prime minister Dubbed the Iron Lady her time in power saw remarkable change in Britain. Battles with the unions, the end of the Cold War and the Falklands crisis were just some of events that took place. In the end when she left Downing Street - having been prime minister from 1979 until 1990 - she did so because she knew she no longer had the support of her ministers who believed she would lose them the next election.

With Mr Blair hinting on Thursday that he might stay on for a full third term - subject to the consent of the British voter - it is her 11 and a half years are the most obvious target for him to try to beat. Margaret Thatcher | prime minister of United Kingdom | Britannica.com prime minister of United Kingdom Written By: Alternative Titles: Iron Lady, Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven Margaret Thatcher Prime minister of United Kingdom Also known as Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven Iron Lady David Cameron Margaret Thatcher, in full Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, née Margaret Hilda Roberts (born October 13, 1925, Grantham , Lincolnshire , England —died April 8, 2013, London ), British Conservative Party politician and prime minister (1979–90), Europe’s first woman prime minister.

The only British prime minister in the 20th century to win three consecutive terms and, at the time of her resignation, Britain’s longest continuously serving prime minister since 1827, she accelerated the evolution of the British economy from statism to liberalism and became, by personality as much as achievement, the most renowned British political leader since Winston Churchill . Margaret Thatcher. David Montgomery—Hulton Archive/Getty Images Early years The daughter of Alfred Roberts, a grocer and local alderman (and later mayor of Grantham), and Beatrice Ethel Stephenson, Thatcher formed an early desire to be a politician. Her intellectual ability led her to the University of Oxford , where she studied chemistry and was immediately active in politics, becoming one of the first woman presidents of the Oxford University Conservative Association. After graduating in 1947 she worked for four years as a research chemist, reading for the bar in her spare time. From 1954 she practiced as a barrister , specializing in tax law. In 1951 she married a wealthy industrialist, Denis Thatcher (b. 1915—d. 2003), who supported her political ambition.

The couple had twins, a son and a daughter, in 1953. Thatcher first ran for Parliament in 1950 but was unsuccessful, despite increasing the local Conservative vote by 50 percent. In 1959 she entered the House of Commons , winning the “safe” Conservative seat of Finchley in northern London. She rose steadily within the party, serving as a parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance (1961–64), as chief opposition spokesman on education (1969–70), and as secretary of state for education and science (1970–74) in the Conservative government of Edward Heath .

While a member of the Heath cabinet (Thatcher was only the second woman to hold a cabinet portfolio in a Conservative government), she eliminated a program that provided free milk to schoolchildren, provoking a storm of controversy and prompting opponents in the Labour Party to taunt her with cries of “Thatcher the milk snatcher.” She also created more comprehensive schools—introduced by the Labour Party in the 1960s to make rigorous academic education available to working-class children—than any other education minister in history, though they were undermined during her tenure as prime minister. After Heath lost two successive elections in 1974, Thatcher, though low in the party hierarchy , was the only minister prepared to challenge him for the party leadership. With the backing of the Conservative right wing, she was elected leader in February 1975 and thus began a 15-year ascendancy that would change the face of Britain. Prime minister Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent Thatcher led the Conservatives to a decisive electoral victory in 1979 following a series of major strikes during the previous winter (the so-called “Winter of Discontent”) under the Labour Party government of James Callaghan .

As a prime minister representing the newly energetic right wing of the Conservative Party (the “Dries,” as they later called themselves, as opposed to the old-style moderate Tories, or “Wets”), Thatcher advocated greater independence of the individual from the state; an end to allegedly excessive government interference in the economy, including privatization of state-owned enterprises and the sale of public housing to tenants; reductions in expenditures on social services such as health care, education, and housing; limitations on the printing of money in accord with the economic doctrine of monetarism ; and legal restrictions on trade unions. The term Thatcherism came to refer not just to these policies but also to certain aspects of her ethical outlook and personal style, including moral absolutism, fierce nationalism , a zealous regard for the interests of the individual, and a combative, uncompromising approach to achieving political goals. Margaret Thatcher, 1980s. British Culture and Politics The main impact of her first term was economic. Inheriting a weak economy, she reduced or eliminated some governmental regulations and subsidies to businesses, thereby purging the manufacturing industry of many inefficient—but also some blameless—firms.

The result was a dramatic increase in unemployment, from 1.3 million in 1979 to more than double that figure two years later. At the same time, inflation doubled in just 14 months, to more than 20 percent, and manufacturing output fell sharply. Although inflation decreased and output rose before the end of her first term, unemployment continued to increase, reaching more than three million in 1986. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at the Tory Party conference in Blackpool, England, 1981. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies Thatcher embarked on an ambitious program of privatization of state-owned industries and public services, including aerospace, television and radio, gas and electricity, water, the state airline, and British Steel. By the end of the 1980s, the number of individual stockholders had tripled, and the government had sold 1.5 million publicly owned housing units to their tenants. Nonetheless, rising unemployment and social tensions during her first term made her deeply unpopular.

Her unpopularity would have ensured her defeat in the general election of 1983 were it not for two factors: the Falkland Islands War (1982) between Britain and Argentina, over possession of a remote British dependency in the South Atlantic, and the deep divisions within the Labour Party, which contested the election on a radical manifesto that critics dubbed the “longest suicide note in history.” Thatcher won election to a second term in a landslide—the biggest victory since Labour’s great success in 1945—gaining a parliamentary majority of 144 with just over 42 percent of the vote. Thatcher entered office promising to curb the power of the unions, which had shown their ability to bring the country to a standstill during six weeks of strikes in the winter of 1978–79. Her government enacted a series of measures designed to undermine the unions’ ability to organize and stage strikes, including laws that banned the closed shop, required unions to poll their members before ordering a strike, forbade sympathy strikes, and rendered unions responsible for damages caused by their members.

In 1984 the National Union of Mineworkers began a nationwide strike to prevent the closing of 20 coal mines that the government claimed were unproductive. The walkout, which lasted nearly a year, soon became emblematic of the struggle for power between the Conservative government and the trade union movement. Thatcher steadfastly refused to meet the union’s demands, and in the end she won; the miners returned to work without winning a single concession . A terrorist bombing at a Conservative Party conference in Brighton in 1984, the work of the Irish Republican Army , nearly killed Thatcher and several senior members of her government. After battling Ken Livingstone’s Labour-led London government, Thatcher abolished the Greater London Council in 1986. By the end of Thatcher’s second term, few aspects of British life had escaped the most sweeping transformation of Britain since the postwar reforms of the Labour Party. Connect with Britannica Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest In foreign affairs, the Falklands War illuminated her most significant international relationship, with Ronald Reagan , president of the United States (1981–89).

Thatcher and Reagan, who together made the 1980s the decade of conservatism , shared a vision of the world in which the Soviet Union was an evil enemy deserving of no compromise, and their partnership ensured that the Cold War continued in all its frigidity until the rise to power of the reform-minded Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985. In keeping with her strong anticommunism—a 1976 speech condemning communism earned her the nickname “Iron Lady” in the Soviet press—Thatcher strongly supported the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent, a stance that proved popular with the electorate, given the Labour Party’s repudiation of Britain’s traditional nuclear and defense policies. In Africa, Thatcher presided over the orderly establishment of an independent Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) in 1980 after 15 years of illegal separation from British colonial rule under a white minority. However, she encountered considerable criticism both at home and abroad for her opposition to international sanctions against the apartheid regime of South Africa . Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher at the White House, Washington, D.C., July 17, 1987.

Courtesy Ronald Reagan Library The second half of Thatcher’s tenure was marked by an inextinguishable controversy over Britain’s relationship with the European Community (EC). In 1984 she succeeded, amid fierce opposition, in drastically reducing Britain’s contribution to the EC budget. After her third electoral victory in 1987, she adopted a steadily more hostile attitude toward European integration . She resisted “federalist” continental trends toward both a single currency and a deeper political union. Her traditionally pro-European party became divided, and a string of senior ministers left the Cabinet over the issue. Trending Topics Eyjafjallajökull volcano The implementation of a poll tax in 1989 produced outbreaks of street violence and alarmed the Conservative rank-and-file, who feared that Thatcher could not lead the party to a fourth consecutive term. Spurred by public disapproval of the poll tax and Thatcher’s increasingly strident tone, Conservative members of Parliament moved against her in November 1990.

Although she defeated her most senior opponent, former defense minister Michael Heseltine, by 204 votes to Heseltine’s 152, her total fell four votes short of the necessary majority plus 15 percent, and she decided not to contest the election in a second ballot. On November 22 she announced her resignation as Conservative Party leader and prime minister, paving the way for her replacement by John Major six days later. Later years In retirement, Margaret Thatcher remained a political force. She continued to influence internal Conservative Party politics (often to the dismay of Major), and Thatcherism shaped the priorities of the Labour Party, which she had kept out of office for more than a decade. She remained a member of Parliament until the 1992 election and was subsequently elevated, as a peeress for life, to the House of Lords . She continued to speak and lecture, notably in the United States and Asia, and established the Thatcher Foundation to support free enterprise and democracy , particularly in the newly liberated countries of central and eastern Europe. In 1995 she became a member of the Order of the Garter . Following a series of minor strokes, she retired from public speaking in 2002.

Thatcher’s daughter, Carol, revealed in her 2008 memoir A Swim-On Part in the Goldfish Bowl that her mother had been showing symptoms of progressive dementia since 2000. FACTBOX: Longest-serving British prime ministers | Reuters Thu May 10, 2007 | 8:45 AM EDT FACTBOX: Longest-serving British prime ministers British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced on Thursday he is stepping down as leader. He ranks ninth on the list of longest serving prime ministers and is the second person in the century to have held the job for 10 years. Here are some facts about British prime ministers: -- Only Margaret Thatcher has outlasted Blair as prime minister in the past century, occupying the head of government's Downing Street residence for 11-1/2 years from 1979 to 1990. -- Both fall well short of several previous occupants of the post. Sir Robert Walpole, generally regarded as Britain's first prime minister, served nearly 21 years from 1721-42. -- Blair is the longest-serving Labour Party prime minister and the first to win three elections in a row.

-- One woman and 51 men have passed through the doors of Number 10 Downing Street as prime minister since the address was first associated with British leaders in 1730. -- George Canning holds the record for the shortest term as prime minister, serving just 119 days in 1827. -- Here's a list of the longest serving prime ministers: - Robert Walpole: (1721-42) 20 years 314 days. - William Pitt the Younger: (1783-1801; 1804-06) 18 years 343 days. - Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of Liverpool: (1812-27) 14 years 305 days. - Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury: (1885-86; 1886-92; 1895-1902) 13 years 252 days.

- William Ewart Gladstone: (1868-74; 1880-85; 1886; 1892-94) 12 years 126 days. - Lord North: (1770-82) 12 years 58 days. - Margaret Thatcher: (1979-90) 11 years 209 days. - Henry Pelham: (1743-54) 10 years 191 days. - Tony Blair: (1997-) 10 years 8 days.

(Source: 10 Downing Street website) ADVERTISEMENT Margaret Thatcher funeral: Military honours for the longest-serving prime minister of the 20th century | The Independent Margaret Thatcher funeral: Military honours for the longest-serving prime minister of the 20th century Wednesday 17 April 2013 10:00 BST Click to follow Indy Politics A Union flag draped coffin bearing the body of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is carried on a gun carriage drawn by the King's Troop Royal Artillery Getty Images Baroness Thatcher was today granted the honour of a ceremonial funeral at St Paul's Cathedral in the presence of the Queen, Prime Minister David Cameron and dignitaries from all around the world. A coffin bearing the body of Britain's first female prime minister was carried in military procession through streets lined by thousands of mourners and members of all three armed services. Although the event was not the state funeral received by Sir Winston Churchill, it was conducted with more pomp and ceremony than any seen in London since the death of the Queen Mother in 2002.

A gun carriage drawn by six black horses carried Lady Thatcher to St Paul's, where a congregation of more than 2,300 guests had gathered to pay their final respects. Earlier, the longest-serving prime minister of the 20th century left Parliament for the last time as a hearse took her body from the crypt chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster to the start of the military procession at St Clement Danes in The Strand. Lady Thatcher's coffin, draped in the Union flag, bore a large bouquet of white roses with a handwritten note from children Sir Mark and Carol Thatcher reading "Beloved Mother - Always in our Hearts". Prime Minister David Cameron said the funeral was a "fitting tribute" to a major national figure, and urged the Iron Lady's political opponents to show "respect" during the event. But protesters joined mourners lining the route of the procession, some of them voicing anger over the reported £10 million cost of the funeral. Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, who has led Government preparations for the event, insisted today that the cost would be "much, much less" than this figure, but no official estimate has yet been released.

Mr Cameron accepted that opinions were divided over the legacy of Lady Thatcher, who died last week aged 87. But he said that Britain's first female prime minister had created a new consensus during her time in power, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "In a way, we are all Thatcherites now. "She was the first woman prime minister, she served for longer in the job that anyone for 150 years, she achieved some extraordinary things in her life. I think what is happening today is absolutely fitting and right." At dawn today, Union flags and the national flags of the UK were lowered to half-mast at Government buildings and other locations across the country as a mark of respect. They will remain lowered until dusk. In a poignant journey down streets lined with mourners, the hearse bore the former prime minister's body past some of the scenes of the triumphs and setbacks of her remarkable career.

As it made its way down Whitehall under overcast skies, it passed the gates of Downing Street - Lady Thatcher's home from 1979, when she arrived as prime minister quoting St Francis of Assisi's "Where there is despair let us bring hope", until her tearful departure after being ejected by her own party in 1990. Prayers were said at the RAF church of St Clement Danes on The Strand by resident chaplain the Rev David Osborn as the coffin was transferred to a gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery for the military procession. The carriage made its way at a pace of 70 steps per minute down The Strand, Temple Bar, Fleet Street and Ludgate Hill to St Paul's. The wheels of the 1.5-ton carriage had been changed from steel to rubber so it runs more quietly on the road. The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth led the procession, striking eight bass drum beats to set the pace and playing funeral marches by Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Chopin.

The route was lined by members of all three services in full ceremonial day dress, officers wearing black armbands, with colours draped and rifle muzzles pointed downwards towards the ground as a mark of respect. More than 4,000 police officers were on duty to ensure security amid heightened fears of a terror attack sparked by the bombing of the Boston marathon in the US. As the procession moved forward, a gun salute was fired at one-minute intervals from the Tower of London. Among the three 105mm light guns operated by the Honourable Artillery Company were two used in the Falklands, which were last fired in anger at Goose Green and the final assault on Port Stanley. As the procession arrived at St Paul's there was warm applause from crowds packing the pavements, along with some booing. The cortege was met by a guard of honour from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards at the West Steps of St Paul's, which were lined by members of all three services and 16 Chelsea pensioners. A single half-muffled bell tolled.

The eight pall-bearers who carried the casket into the Cathedral were drawn from Army units, Royal Navy ships and RAF stations with links to the Falklands war, commanded by Major Nick Mott of the Welsh Guards who served in the 1982 conflict. Lady Thatcher's grandchildren Michael and Amanda walked ahead of the coffin as it entered the cathedral, carrying cushions bearing the insignia of the Order of the Garter and Order of Merit, which were laid on the altar. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh headed a glittering list of dignitaries from around the world, former colleagues and showbusiness stars attending the funeral, including Mr Cameron and all members of his Cabinet, as well as more than 30 members of Lady Thatcher's cabinets from 1979 to 1990. Around 170 countries were represented by dignitaries, including two heads of state, 11 serving prime ministers, members of royal families, foreign ministers and ambassadors. But there were no serving ministers from either the US or French administrations.

President Barack Obama's official delegation was led by George Shultz and James Baker, who both served as secretaries of state during the Thatcher era, while French president Francois Hollande has sent Elisabeth Guigou, a close adviser to Francois Mitterrand while Lady Thatcher was in office. Former US vice-president Dick Cheney and ex-secretary of state Henry Kissinger were attending in a personal capacity. In a mark of continuing tensions over the Falkland Islands, Argentine ambassador Alicia Castro declined an invitation to attend. At the former prime minister's request, the funeral was being framed by British music, with pieces by UK composers played at the beginning and end of the service. Lady Thatcher chose the hymn He Who Would Valiant Be, while the Charles Wesley hymn Love Divine, All Loves Excelling will reflect the influence of her Methodist upbringing, and the final hymn will be the patriotic verse I Vow To Thee My Country. The organ played Psalm 84, set to the music of Johannes Brahms, which is the same piece Lady Thatcher chose to be played at the funeral of her husband Sir Denis Thatcher in 2003.

Mr Cameron and Amanda Thatcher were giving readings from the King James Bible, and Bishop of London Richard Chartres was delivering the address. At the conclusion of the service, a blessing was due to be given by Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, before the coffin is borne out of the cathedral and returned to a hearse which will take it to the Royal Hospital Chelsea ahead of a private cremation at Mortlake Crematorium in south west London. PA Margaret Thatcher remembered as tough, controversial FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest Margaret Thatcher remembered as tough, controversial LONDON — Asked about the death for Margaret Thatcher, Gill Branthwaite recalled a great prime minister but not one beloved by all. Post to Facebook Margaret Thatcher remembered as tough, controversial LONDON — Asked about the death for Margaret Thatcher, Gill Branthwaite recalled a great prime minister but not one beloved by all. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

94 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Margaret Thatcher remembered as tough, controversial Timeline: Margaret Thatcher Milestones in the life and career of Britain's former prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Sponsored by Oct. 13, 1925: Born in Grantham, central England. June 1947: Graduates from Oxford with a chemistry degree. February 1950: Loses bid to become a member of Parliament Dec. 13, 1951: Marries Denis Thatcher, a wealthy oil executive. Aug. 15, 1953: Gives birth to twins, Mark and Carol. 1954-1975 Early career June 1, 1954: Qualifies as a lawyer after two years of legal training. Oct. 8, 1959: Elected to Parliament, becoming Conservative Party's member for Finchley, a North London suburb. June 20, 1970: Becomes education secretary. Feb. 11, 1975: Elected leader of the Conservative Party.

1979-1987 May 3, 1979: Wins national elections, becomes prime minister as a conservative government is formed. June 9, 1983: Wins second term. October 1984: Survives an IRA bomb assassination attempt. November 1986: Meets President Reagan at Camp David for a summit, where they sign an arms-control statement. June 11, 1987: Wins third term. 1988-1990 Jan. 3, 1988: Becomes Britain's longest continuously serving prime minister of 20th century. Nov. 22, 1990: Announces resignation after party revolt. 1990-1992 After parliament Nov. 28, 1990: John Major succeeds her as prime minister. In the same year, Thatcher is awarded the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II. 1991: Receives U.S. Medal of Freedom from President George H.W.

Bush June 26, 1992: Becomes Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, a member of the unelected House of Lords with a lifetime title. 2002-2013 March 22, 2002: Ends public speaking after suffering a series of small strokes. June 26, 2003: Her husband, Sir Denis Thatcher, dies. February 2007: Honored with a statue in the Houses of Parliament. 2011: "The Iron Lady," with Meryl Streep portraying Thatcher, is released. April 8, 2013: Dies of stroke. Louise Osbourne, Kim Hjelmgaard and Gary Strauss, USA TODAY Published 8:05 a.m. ET April 8, 2013 | Updated 12:52 p.m. ET April 8, 2013 World leaders pay tribute. Margaret Thatcher inside 10 Downing Street in London in 2010.

(Photo: Suzanne Plunkett, AFP/Getty Images) Story Highlights Margaret Thatcher was prime minister 1979 to 1990 Thatcher is the only female to have held PM's office She will receive a ceremonial funeral with military honors LONDON — Asked about the death for Margaret Thatcher, Gill Branthwaite recalled a great prime minister but not one beloved by all. "Her policies were tough and not always welcomed, she led the country through some very difficult times and was always true to her beliefs," said Branthwaite, 51, of Chertsey just outside London. The British government said Thatcher, who died of a stroke Monday at age 87, will receive a ceremonial funeral with military honors. Prime Minister David Cameron cut short a trip to Spain and France upon hearing the news. Queen Elizabeth II has authorized a ceremonial funeral — a step short of a state funeral — to be held at St. Paul's Cathedral. She held the office of prime minister in the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. She was the first and only woman to do so.

APPRECIATION: Thatcher made her mark in Britain While many remembered her fondly, especially world leaders, some in the United Kingdom were not so charitable of the conservative leader who assailed the British nanny-state. She helped privatize many economic activities that had been controlled by the state, and stood up to the powerful British unions and the Irish Republican Army. CLOSE x Share Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died on Monday following a stroke, her spokesman, Lord Bell, said. She was 87. VPC Cameron, a conservative, has picked up where she left off regarding government spending, presiding over cuts to England's massive public education system that Thatcher had said in her time was unsustainable spending. But some say she caused the current budget and financial troubles. "Her legacy is very clear in the present financial crisis," said Adam Parker-Rhodes, 72, of London. "Thatcher was responsible for removing restraints on the financial markets – leading the way internationally – which led to the mess we're in now." Hannah Watson, a publisher in London, was concerned that her funeral would be a raucous affair. "She is hated by so many people it might backfire somewhat," she said.

President Obama said the world had lost "one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend." "As prime minister, she helped restore the confidence and pride that has always been the hallmark of Britain at its best. And as an unapologetic supporter of our transatlantic alliance, she knew that with strength and resolve we could win the Cold War and extend freedom's promise," Obama said. Former President Bill Clinton said he was saddened by Thatcher's death. "Lady Thatcher understood that the special relationship which has long united our two nations is an indispensable foundation for peace and prosperity,'' he said. "Our strong partnership today is part of her legacy. Like so many others, I respected the conviction and self-determination she displayed throughout her remarkable life as she broke barriers, defied expectations, and led her country. Hillary, Chelsea, and I extend our condolences to her family and to the people of the United Kingdom. Former president George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, issued a statement Monday morning.

"Margaret was, to be sure, one of the 20th century's fiercest advocates of freedom and free markets -- a leader of rare character who carried high the banner of her convictions, and whose principles in the end helped shape a better, freer world. The personal grief we Bushes feel is compounded by the knowledge that America has lost one of the staunchest allies we have ever known; and yet we have confidence that her sterling record of accomplishment will inspire future generations. May God bless the memory of Margaret Thatcher." Former First Lady Nancy Reagan recalled the special relationship between Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. "Ronnie and I knew her as a dear and trusted friend, and I will miss her," Mrs. Reagan said. "The United States knew Margaret as a spirited and courageous ally, and the world owes her a debt of gratitude." Republican House Speaker John Boehner praised the "daughter of a grocer" for loyalty to conservative values that improved life in the United Kingdom and the world. He lauded her for having "stared down elites, union bosses and communists to win three consecutive elections, establish conservative principles in Western Europe, and bring down the Iron Curtain.

"There was no secret to her values – hard work and personal responsibility – and no nonsense at all in her leadership," Boehner said. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi was effusive in her praise for Thatcher. "(She) was a commanding political figure, a leader of uncompromising strength, and a public servant who never failed to break down barriers. As the first woman—and longest-serving—British Prime Minister, she possessed a singular resilience that commanded the respect of her colleagues, the attention of a nation, and the awe of women and men across the world," Pelosi said. Strauss reported from McLean, Va. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Margaret Thatcher, leading conservative who won the first ballot for leadership which resulted in Prime Minister Edward Heath's resignation, speaks on Feb. 10, 1975, in London. Thatcher, 87, Britain's first female prime minister, died on April 8 from a stroke. AP Margaret Roberts, at 24 the youngest candidate for the general election, works at her job as a research chemist on Jan. 24, 1950.

Chris Ware, Keystone Features via Getty Images Conservative Minister of Parliament Margaret Thatcher slides down a ski run with instructor Joe Hoki on Dec. 7, 1962, in Battersea Park, England. Reg Lancaster, Getty Images British Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher poses in the kitchen of her Chelsea home following her election as the leader of the Tory party on Feb. 11, 1975, in London. AFP/Getty Images British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher waves as she arrives with her husband, Denis, to take office at No 10 Downing Street on May 4, 1979, in London. AFP/Getty Images British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher answers questions during a news conference at the United Nations on June 23, 1982, in New York. Suzanne Vlamis, AP British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher inspects the FANUC robot factory on Sept. 19, 1982, in Yoshino, Japan. AP British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is flanked by sumo wrestling Grand Champion Chiyonofuji, left, and Junior Champion Second Class Takamiyama during a reception hosted by the Japan-British Society at a Tokyo Hotel on Sept.

20, 1982. Sadayuki Mikami, AP Fullscreen British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher receives a red-carpet welcome in Tiananmen Square in China on Sept. 22, 1982. On her left is Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang. Thatcher was on five-day official state visit to discuss the future status of Hong Kong. Liu Heung Shing, AP Fullscreen British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher stands beside a sign warning of a minefield during a visit to the Falkland Islands on Jan. 9, 1983. The minefield is a grim reminder of the problems facing the Islanders as they try to return to normalcy after the war with Argentina. AP Fullscreen President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher speak to reporters after her arrival on June 23, 1982, at the White House in Washington for a meeting. Thatcher flew to Washington after an address to the United Nations disarmament conference in New York for their first meeting since British troops recaptured the Falkland Island on June 14. AP Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher meets personnel aboard the British navy ship HMS Antrim during her five-day visit to the Falkand Islands on Jan.

8, 1983. Sven Nackstrand, AFP/Getty Images Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher stands in front of a hangar at a British hovercraft manufacturer on June 8, 1983. John Redman, AP Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher attends the European Economic Community Summit on June 25, 1984, in Fontainebleau, France. AP Senior Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping meets with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on Dec. 19, 1984, in Beijing. Pierre-Antoine Donnet, AFP/Getty Images British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sits in the cockpit in her Royal Air Force VE-10 aircraft during a flight to Hong Kong from Beijing on Dec. 20, 1984. Bill Rowntree, AP British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President Ronald Reagan wave to photographers after their arrival at Camp David on Dec. 22, 1984, in Thurmont Maryland. AFP/Getty Images Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, left, applauds as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher begins a four-day visit on May 25, 1986, in Jerusalem.

Sven Nackstrand, AFP/Getty Images British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher stands in a British tank during a visit to British forces in Fallingbostel, some 70 miles south of Hamburg, Germany, on Sept. 17, 1986. Jockel Fink, AP British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher waves to supporters from Conservative Party headquarters in London on June 12, 1987, after she won the general election. Gerald Penny, AP British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher acknowledges applause at the end of the Conservative Party conference on Oct. 13, 1989, in Blackpool, England. Johnny Eggit, AFP/Getty Images Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev looks at his watch before beginning bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at the Soviet ambassador's residence on Nov. 20, 1990, in Paris. David Caulkin, AP British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher speaks during a joint news conference with President George H.W. Bush on Nov. 19, 1990, in Paris. J. Scott Applewhite, AP British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Czechoslovakian President Vaclav Havel toast before lunch on Sept.

17, 1990, in Prague. Thatcher was meeting with Havel in support of Czechoslovakia's re-emergence from the Soviet sphere. Pavel Horejsi, AP British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher greets African National Congress member Nelson Mandela on July 4, 1990, at 10 Downing St. in London. Gerry Penny, AFP/Getty Images Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher is escorted by Kuwait's Minister of Information Saud Nasser al-Sabah on Feb. 26, 1998, at the Kuwait City International Airport. J. Scott Applewhite, AP Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greets former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher on Aug. 26, 1998, in Jerusalem. Daoud Mizrahi, AFP/Getty Images Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher pauses at the casket of former President Ronald Reagan as he lies in state in the Capitol Rotunda on June 9, 2004, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ron Edmonds, AP Fullscreen Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, left, U.S. Vice President Cheney and his wife, Lynne, observe a moment of silence on the fifth anniversary of the Sept.

11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the South Lawn of the White House on Sept. 11, 2006, in Washington, D.C. Ron Edmonds, AP Margaret Thatcher attends a military wreath-laying ceremony on Nov. 9, 2007, in London. Kirsty Wigglesworth, AP Margaret Thatcher attends the opening of the new Canine Partners training accommodation building at the National Training Centre on June 2, 2009, in Heyshott, England. Shaun Curry, AFP/Getty Images Former British prime minister baroness Margaret Thatcher stands with British Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing St. before the start of a meeting on June 8, 2010. Leon Neal, AFP/Getty Images Like this topic?

You may also like these photo galleries: Replay Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female prime minister, dies - Apr 08, 2013 - HISTORY.com Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female prime minister, dies Share this: Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female prime minister, dies Author Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female prime minister, dies URL Publisher A+E Networks On this day in 2013, Margaret Thatcher, the first–and so far only–female prime minister of the United Kingdom, dies in London at age 87 from a stroke. Serving from 1979 to 1990, Thatcher was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century. She curbed the power of Britain’s labor unions, privatized state-owned industries, led her nation to victory in the Falklands War and as a close ally of U.S. President Ronald Reagan played a pivotal role in ending the Cold War. A polarizing figure, Thatcher, nicknamed the Iron Lady, was credited by her admirers with championing free-market, conservative policies that revitalized the British economy, while critics charged these initiatives hurt the nation’s lower classes.

Margaret Hilda Roberts was born on October 23, 1925, in Grantham, a town in northeast England. Her family lived in an apartment above the grocery store owned by her father, who also was a local politician. After graduating from Oxford University in 1947, the future prime minister worked as a research chemist. In the early 1950s, she twice ran unsuccessfully for parliament as a Conservative Party candidate. After marrying Denis Thatcher (1915-2003), a well-off businessman, in 1951, she studied law and gave birth to twins in 1953. That same year, she qualified as a barrister. In 1959, Thatcher was elected to the House of Commons from the Finchley district in north London. She rose through her party’s ranks, and when the Conservatives came to power under Edward Heath in 1970, she was named secretary for education. In that role, Thatcher was vilified by her Labour Party opponents as “Thatcher the Milk Snatcher” after she made cuts to a free-milk program for schoolchildren.

In 1975, with Labour back in power, Thatcher, to the surprise of many, defeated Heath to become head of her party, as well as the first woman to serve as opposition leader in the House of Commons. In 1979, with Britain’s economy in poor health and labor union strikes rampant, the Conservatives returned to power and Thatcher was elected prime minister. Her government lowered income taxes but increased taxes on good and services, slashed or eliminated government subsidies to businesses and implemented other austerity measures. Unemployment soared and Thatcher’s approval ratings plummeted. Then, after Argentina invaded the British-ruled Falkland Islands in April 1982, she sent troops there and by June the Falklands had been recaptured. The victory helped Thatcher win re-election as prime minister in 1983. During her second term, Thatcher’s government defeated a bitter, yearlong miner’s strike and passed legislation restricting the rights of trade unions, while also privatizing a number of state-owned enterprises, selling off public housing and de-regulating the financial industry.

In 1984, Thatcher survived unscathed a bomb attack by the Irish Republican Army at a Conservative Party conference in Brighton, England; the blast killed five people and injured more than 30 others. In foreign affairs, Thatcher, an opponent of communism, had a close relationship with Ronald Reagan, who served in the White House from 1981 to 1989, and with whom she shared a number of conservative views. Yet she also forged ties with Mikhail Gorbachev, who led the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. Thatcher famously said after meeting him, “I like Mr. Gorbachev. We can do business together,” and her leadership played an important role in helping to end Cold War tensions between America and the Soviets. In other foreign policy issues, Thatcher, controversially, spoke out initially against international efforts to impose economic sanctions on apartheid South Africa, arguing such sanctions wouldn’t work. After being elected to an unprecedented third term in 1987, the hardheaded Thatcher experienced dissent in her own party over her opposition to further economic integration between Britain and the rest of Europe, and her introduction of a widely unpopular poll tax system.

In November 1990, at the urging of her fellow party members, she resigned as prime minister and was succeeded by John Major. When she departed 10 Downing Street, Thatcher was the longest continuously serving prime minister in more than 150 years. She left the House of Commons in 1992, and was appointed to the House of Lords, with the title Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven. She went on to pen her memoirs and travel the world giving lectures. Following a series of minor strokes in the early 2000s, Thatcher largely retreated from public view. Meryl Streep earned an Oscar for her portrayal of the former prime minister in the 2011 biopic “The Iron Lady,” which generated criticism from some Conservative politicians for its depiction of Thatcher’s decline into dementia during her later years. After Thatcher died in April 2013, more than 2,000 guests from around the world attended her funeral at London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, which in 1965 was the site of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s funeral.

Related Videos Longest-serving prime ministers | Reuters Thu May 10, 2007 | 12:30 PM BST Longest-serving prime ministers Prime Minister Tony Blair is to announce on Thursday he is stepping down as leader. He ranks ninth on the list of longest serving prime ministers and is the second person in the century to have held the job for 10 years. Here are some facts about prime ministers: -- Only Margaret Thatcher has outlasted Blair as prime minister in the past century, occupying the head of government's Downing Street residence for 11-1/2 years from 1979 to 1990. -- Both fall well short of several previous occupants of the post. Sir Robert Walpole, generally regarded as Britain's first prime minister, served nearly 21 years from 1721-42. -- Blair is the longest-serving Labour Party prime minister and the first to win three elections in a row. -- One woman and 51 men have passed through the doors of Number 10 Downing Street as prime minister since the address was first associated with British leaders in 1730.

-- George Canning holds the record for the shortest term as prime minister, serving just 119 days in 1827. -- Here's a list of the longest serving prime ministers: - Robert Walpole: (1721-42) 20 years 314 days. - William Pitt the Younger: (1783-1801; 1804-06) 18 years 343 days. - Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of Liverpool: (1812-27) 14 years 305 days. - Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury: (1885-86; 1886-92; 1895-1902) 13 years 252 days. - William Ewart Gladstone: (1868-74; 1880-85; 1886; 1892-94) 12 years 126 days.

- Lord North: (1770-82) 12 years 58 days. - Margaret Thatcher: (1979-90) 11 years 209 days. - Henry Pelham: (1743-54) 10 years 191 days. - Tony Blair: (1997-) 10 years 8 days. (Source: 10 Downing Street website) ADVERTISEMENT

Question: Who was the longest, continuously-serving British prime Minister of the 20th Century?
Answer: Margaret Thatcher