Sveinn Björnsson
Sveinn Björnsson (born in Copenhagen,
27 January 1881, died Reykjavik,
25 January 1952) became a member of Reykjavik town council in 1912 and was its president in 1918-20. 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 German occupation of Denmark in 1940 resulted in Iceland's autonomy (Denmark had been responsible for Iceland's foreign affairs), and Björnsson was elected Regent of Iceland three times in 1941-1943, assuming the prerogatives previously held by the Danish king. 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 1948. He died shortly before his second term of office was due to expire.