Tripti Joshi (Editor)

Sveinn Bjornsson

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Succeeded by
  
Asgeir Asgeirsson

Profession
  
Lawyer

Spouse
  
Georgia Bjornsson

Children
  
Bjorn Sv. Bjornsson

Nationality
  
Icelandic

Name
  
Sveinn Bjornsson

Education
  
University of Copenhagen

Sveinn Bjornsson httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu
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

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.

References

Sveinn Bjornsson Wikipedia