Sveinn Björnsson

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Image:Sveinnbjornsson.jpg Sveinn Björnsson (27 February 1881 – 25 January 1952) was the first president of the Republic of Iceland.

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

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, he was a member of the Althing in 1914-1916 and 1920, and following Iceland's independence from Denmark in 1918 he acted as minister to Denmark in 1920-1924 and 1926 - 1940.

The occupation of Denmark by Nazi Germany in 1940 resulted in Iceland's autonomy (Denmark had been responsible for Iceland's foreign affairs), and Sveinn was elected Regent of Iceland three times in 1941 to 1943, assuming the prerogatives previously held by Christian X of Denmark.

When Iceland became a republic in 1944 he was chosen to be the first president of Iceland by the Althing. He served from 1944 to 1952, being re-elected unopposed in 1945 and 1949. He died in Reykjavík more than one year before his second term of office was due to expire.

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