Ásgeir Ásgeirsson

This article is about the Icelandic politician. For the snooker player, see Ásgeir Ásgeirsson (Snooker player) .

Ásgeir Ásgeirsson

Ásgeir Ásgeirsson [ˈausceir̥ ˈausceir̥sɔn] (born May 13, 1894 in Kóranes , Iceland , † September 15, 1972 in Reykjavík ) was an Icelandic politician and the first popularly elected president of the country.

Life

Ásgeir obtained his university entrance qualification ( isl. Stúdentspróf) at the Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík in 1912 . He studied theology at the University of Iceland .

From 1923 to 1952 he was a member of the Althing , the Icelandic parliament. He was a member of the Progressive Party ( Framsóknarflokkurinn ) until 1934, independent from 1934-1937 and then represented the Social Democrats ( Alþýðuflokkurinn ). In the 1930s (June 3, 1932 - July 29, 1934) he was Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Iceland .

From 1938 until his election as president he was director of Útvegsbanki Íslands.

After Sveinn Björnsson's unexpected death , Ásgeir was elected second president of the Republic of Iceland, which became independent in 1944, in 1952. He held the office until 1968. In his re-elections in 1956, 1960 and 1964 there were no opposing candidates.

His parents were the businessman Ásgeir Eyþórsson and Jensína Björg Matthíasdóttir. He was married to Thóra Þórhallsdóttir, the daughter of Bishop Þórhall Bjarnason.

Awards (selection)

• 1952: Order of the Falcons
• 1954: Order of the Elephants
• 1954: Collane of the Finnish Order of the White Rose
• 1955: Special level of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Web links

• Ásgeir Ásgeirsson at althingi.is (Icelandic)

Note: Icelanders are referred to by their first name or first and last name, but not just their surname. Further information can be found under Icelandic personal name .