A Comparison of Great Women Leaders
A Comparison of Great Women Leaders
Queen Victoria and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher are well known women leaders of England who each in her own manner and in her own generation shaped her country. These women led their countries with conviction. Each lady was dedicated to her position. Even through difficult situations, they were strong and true to their beliefs. Queen Victoria and Prime Minister Thatcher were both forceful women in a time when it was not popular for women to be in control. The personal lives of Queen Victoria and Margaret Thatcher shaped how they each led her country. Queen Victoria was born Alexandrina Victoria on May 24, 1819. She was the only child of Edward Duke of Kent, son of King George III and Mary Louisa Victoria. Her mother and father named her Victoria, but her uncle George IV insisted she be named Alexandrina after Tsar Alexander II of Russia who was her godfather (Arnstein 1). Victoria had an older half sister, Feodore, who was her mother 's child by her first husband Charles of Leiningen (Erickson 10). When Victoria was eight months old, her father Edward, Duke of Kent died. Her mother became involved with Sir John Conroy who had a great deal of influence on her as a child. Sir Conroy controlled her mother 's finances throughout Victoria 's childhood (Arnstein 1). Like Queen Victoria, Margaret Thatcher 's early years developed her strong character. She was born Margaret Hilda Roberts on October 13, 1925. Margaret Thatcher 's parents Alfred and Beatrice ran a grocery store in Grantham and lived above the store (Nardo 7). Growing up, Margaret Thatcher never considered going into politics. During her time period, it was rare for women to do so. The political field was almost completely made up of men. She went to Oxford University and majored in chemistry. While at Oxford she formed a student group called Oxford 's Conservative Association. This group studied politics. Eventually, she became president of this group.
Queen Victoria and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher are well known women leaders of England who each in her own manner and in her own generation shaped her country. These women led their countries with conviction. Each lady was dedicated to her position. Even through difficult situations, they were strong and true to their beliefs. Queen Victoria and Prime Minister Thatcher were both forceful women in a time when it was not popular for women to be in control. The personal lives of Queen Victoria and Margaret Thatcher shaped how they each led her country. Queen Victoria was born Alexandrina Victoria on May 24, 1819. She was the only child of Edward Duke of Kent, son of King George III and Mary Louisa Victoria. Her mother and father named her Victoria, but her uncle George IV insisted she be named Alexandrina after Tsar Alexander II of Russia who was her godfather (Arnstein 1). Victoria had an older half sister, Feodore, who was her mother 's child by her first husband Charles of Leiningen (Erickson 10). When Victoria was eight months old, her father Edward, Duke of Kent died. Her mother became involved with Sir John Conroy who had a great deal of influence on her as a child. Sir Conroy controlled her mother 's finances throughout Victoria 's childhood (Arnstein 1). Like Queen Victoria, Margaret Thatcher 's early years developed her strong character. She was born Margaret Hilda Roberts on October 13, 1925. Margaret Thatcher 's parents Alfred and Beatrice ran a grocery store in Grantham and lived above the store (Nardo 7). Growing up, Margaret Thatcher never considered going into politics. During her time period, it was rare for women to do so. The political field was almost completely made up of men. She went to Oxford University and majored in chemistry. While at Oxford she formed a student group called Oxford 's Conservative Association. This group studied politics. Eventually, she became president of this group.
Cited: Erickson, Carolly. Her Little Majesty - The Life of Queen Victoria. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1997. "The Life and Times of Queen Victoria." Victoria Station. 1999-2001. 21 January 2005 . Nardo, Don. Women Leaders of Nations. San Diego: Lucent Books, Inc., 1999. "A Short Biography." Margaret Thatcher Biography. 2005. 19 January 2005 . Vallone, Lynne. "Victoria." Encyclopedia Britannica. 52. 6 (June 2002): 46. Britannica Online "Victoria (r. 1837-1901)." History of the Monarchy. 21 January 2005 .