Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the first female British Prime Minister, passed away this morning after experiencing a stroke according to her spokesperson. Thatcher served as leader for the Conservative Party in Britain for 13 years.

President Obama released the following statement:

“With the passing of Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend. As a grocer’s daughter who rose to become Britain’s first female prime minister, she stands as an example to our daughters that there is no glass ceiling that can’t be shattered. 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.

Here in America, many of us will never forget her standing shoulder to shoulder with President Reagan, reminding the world that we are not simply carried along by the currents of history—we can shape them with moral conviction, unyielding courage and iron will. Michelle and I send our thoughts to the Thatcher family and all the British people as we carry on the work to which she dedicated her life—free peoples standing together, determined to write our own destiny.”

Thatcher was immortalized in the 2011 biopic, The Iron Lady, where Meryl Streep played the former Prime Minister and won an Academy Award for her performance among other accolades from the BAFTA Awwards and New York Film Critic Circle.

Thatcher has battled poor health over the last few years and, according to CNN, has suffered a series of strokes following her first major reported case in 2002.

Thatcher is survived by her two children, Carol and Mark.