Jón Sigurðsson

Jón Sigurðsson was born on June 17, 1811, in Hrafnseyri in the Westfjords, the son of a pastor. Moving to Copenhagen to study philology and history at the University of Copenhagen, he spent four decades living in Denmark, working as an editor of ancient Icelandic sagas and leader of the Arnamagnæan Commission.

From Copenhagen, Sigurðsson led the non-violent struggle for Icelandic self-determination. He secured the restoration of the ancient parliament, the Althing, in Reykjavík in 1845, the abolition of Danish trade monopolies in 1854, and the 1874 Icelandic Constitution granting home rule. When Iceland declared full independence as a republic on June 17, 1944, his birthday was chosen as the permanent National Holiday.