The decade of the 1950s was a period of significant personal and professional development for Margaret Hilda Roberts, the individual who would later become globally recognized as Margaret Thatcher. Beginning the decade as a recent university graduate embarking on her first career, these ten years saw her actively pursue politics, change professions, marry, start a family, and ultimately achieve her goal of entering Parliament.
Chemistry and Early Politics
Having earned a Chemistry degree from Oxford University in 1947, Margaret Roberts started her working life as a research chemist. Her initial jobs involved working first for a company involved in plastics manufacturing (BX Plastics) and subsequently for the food company J. Lyons and Co., where she reportedly worked on developing emulsifiers used in products like ice cream. Alongside her scientific career, however, she nurtured strong political ambitions, influenced in part by her father’s involvement in local politics in her hometown of Grantham. She was an active member of the Conservative Party. Her political commitment led to her selection, before the 1950 general election, as the Conservative candidate for the parliamentary constituency of Dartford in Kent. This was considered a very difficult seat for the Conservatives to win, being held securely by the Labour Party.
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Campaigning in Dartford
As the Conservative candidate for Dartford, Margaret Roberts gained attention as the youngest female candidate standing in the February 1950 general election. She campaigned with energy and determination, delivering speeches and meeting voters. Although, as expected, she did not win the election, she made a respectable showing. She stood again for the same seat when another general election was called quickly afterwards, in October 1951. Once more, she was unsuccessful in winning the constituency but again campaigned actively, further honing her political skills and increasing her visibility within the party.
Marriage and Motherhood
Her political activities in Kent had personal consequences as well. During this period, she met Denis Thatcher, an older, divorced businessman who was also involved with the local Conservative association. They found common ground and were married in London in December 1951, after which Margaret Roberts became Margaret Thatcher. Their family grew soon after; she gave birth to twins, Carol and Mark, in August 1953.
New Profession: Barrister-at-Law
Shortly after marrying Denis, Margaret Thatcher made a significant career change, deciding to leave the field of chemistry and pursue a qualification in law. With her husband’s support, she began studying for the demanding Bar exams, which would allow her to practice as a **barrister** (a type of lawyer qualified to argue cases in higher courts). She managed her law studies while pregnant and then while caring for her infant twins. She successfully passed her final Bar exams near the end of 1953 and was officially called to the Bar in early 1954. Her legal specialization focused on taxation law. For the next several years, through the mid-to-late 1950s, she balanced her family responsibilities with practicing as a tax barrister.
Pursuing a Seat in Parliament
Despite the demands of raising young children and establishing herself in a new legal career, Margaret Thatcher did not abandon her core ambition of becoming a Member of Parliament. Her experiences campaigning in the challenging Dartford constituency reinforced her desire to find a seat where the Conservative Party had a stronger chance of winning. Throughout the mid-1950s, she put her name forward for selection in various constituencies.
Success in Finchley (1959)
Her search for a winnable seat concluded successfully in 1958 when she was chosen by the local Conservative association as their prospective parliamentary candidate for the constituency of Finchley, located in North London. This was considered a much safer seat for the Conservatives compared to Dartford. She spent the following year becoming known in the constituency and preparing for the next general election. When the election was held in October 1959, Margaret Thatcher won the seat decisively, becoming the Member of Parliament (MP) for Finchley. This victory, achieved at the age of 34, marked her official entry into the British House of Commons and was the culmination of her persistent political efforts throughout the busy decade of the 1950s.
