Succeeded by Asgeir Asgeirsson Profession Lawyer Spouse Georgia Bjornsson Children Bjorn Sv. Bjornsson | Nationality Icelandic Name Sveinn Bjornsson Education University of Copenhagen | |
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Prime Minister Bjorn Þorðarson
Olafur Thors
Stefan Johann Stefansson
Steingrimur Steinþorsson Preceded by Christian X (as the King of Iceland) Born 27 February 1881
Copenhagen, Denmark ( 1881-02-27 ) Alma mater University of Copenhagen Role Former President of Iceland Died January 25, 1952, Reykjavik, Iceland Presidential term June 17, 1944 – January 25, 1952 Parents Bjorn Jonsson, Elisabet Sveinsdottir | ||
President sveinn bjornsson bishop of iceland and general william key present at hd stock footage
Sveinn Bjornsson (pronounced [ˈsveitn̥ ˈpjœsːon]; 27 February 1881 – 25 January 1952), son of Bjorn Jonsson (editor and later minister) and Elisabet Sveinsdottir, was the first President of the Republic of Iceland (1944–1952).
Contents
- President sveinn bjornsson bishop of iceland and general william key present at hd stock footage
- Sveinn bjornsson lokaverkefni 2012
- Background
- References
He became a member of Reykjavik town council in 1912 and was its president during 1918–1920.
Sveinn bjornsson lokaverkefni 2012
Background
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, he was a member of the Althing in 1914–1916 and 1920, and after Iceland's independence from Denmark in 1918 he acted as minister to Denmark during 1920–1924 and 1926–1940.
Although Iceland had become a sovereign state in 1918, its foreign affairs had been conducted by Denmark until the beginning of World War II. The German occupation of Denmark after May 1940, however, resulted in Iceland's autonomy and Sveinn was elected Regent of Iceland three times during 1941–43, assuming all the prerogatives in Icelandic affairs previously held by the Icelandic king, Christian X, who was also King of and resided in Nazi occupied Denmark. In July 1941, United States troops entered Iceland on the invitation of Sveinn's government and remained, in reduced numbers, after the war; their continued presence provoked the main controversy of the nation's postwar foreign policy.
He was elected president by the Althing on the inauguration of the Republic of Iceland in 1944. His first term was only one year, since the people of Iceland were to elect their president directly for the first time in 1945. However, Sveinn was unopposed in 1945 and 1949. He died in Reykjavik in January 1952, more than one year before his third term of office was due to expire and is the only president to die in office.
Sveinn was one of the founders of Eimskipafelag Islands, the main shipping company in Iceland, in 1914 and its chairman 1914–1920 and 1924–1926. He was the founder of the insurance company Brunabotafelag Islands and its director from its foundation in 1916 until 1920. He was also one of the founders of the insurance company Sjovatryggingafelag Islands in 1918 and its chairman in 1918–1920 and 1924–1926. Sveinn was one of the founders of the Icelandic Red Cross on 10 December 1924 and its first chairman, serving until 1926.
His son Bjorn Sv. Bjornsson served in the German military as a part of the Schutzstaffel in WWII.
His great grandson is Henrik Bjornsson singer and lead guitarist of the Shoegaze rock band Singapore Sling.