Margaret Thatcher (Wikimedia Commons)

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died Monday at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke, according to CNN.

Thatcher, known as the "Iron Lady" for her fortitude while in office, was leader of the Conservative Party in England from 1975 to 1990.

She had been out of the public eye for several months and officially retired from public life after a 2002 stroke.

A conservative who got along with President Ronald Reagan, Thatcher praised virtues of absolutism, nationalism and individualism--she once famously declared, "There is no such thing as society."

As leader, she navigated the troubled circumstances of the Cold War, earning her "Iron Lady" nickname from the Soviet press. She helped bring about the resolution of the crisis by approving of Russian politician Mikhail Gorbachev right before he gained office.

For a thorough rundown of Thatcher's political career, read CNN's story.

Reach Executive Producer Michael Juliani here.