Sveinn Björnsson

Sveinn Björnsson
1st President of Iceland
In office 17 June 1944 – 25 January 1952
Prime Minister	Björn Þórðarson Ólafur Thors Stefán Jóhann Stefánsson Steingrímur Steinþórsson
Preceded by	Christian X (as the King of Iceland)
Succeeded by	Ásgeir Ásgeirsson
Personal details
Born	27 February 1881 Copenhagen, Denmark
Died	25 January 1952 (aged 70) Reykjavík, Iceland
Nationality	Icelandic
Spouse(s)	Georgia Björnsson
Children	6
Alma mater	University of Copenhagen
Profession	Lawyer

Sveinn Björnsson (pronounced [ˈsveitn̥ ˈpjœsːɔn]; 27 February 1881 – 25 January 1952), son of Björn Jónsson (editor and later minister) and Elísabet Sveinsdóttir, was the first President of the Republic of Iceland (1944–1952).

He became a member of Reykjavík town council in 1912 and was its president during 1918–1920.

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.

Standard as Regent of Iceland

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 Reykjavík 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 Eimskipafélag Íslands, the main shipping company in Iceland, in 1914 and its chairman 1914–1920 and 1924–1926. He was the founder of the insurance company Brunabótafélag Íslands and its director from its foundation in 1916 until 1920. He was also one of the founders of the insurance company Sjóvátryggingafélag Íslands 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 Björn Sv. Björnsson served in the German military as a part of the Schutzstaffel in WWII.^[1]

His great grandson is Henrik Björnsson singer and lead guitarist of the Shoegaze rock band Singapore Sling.

Notes

1. Útsendingar Þjóðverja (in Icelandic)