Sveinn Björnsson

Sveinn Björnsson was born on February 27, 1881, in Copenhagen, the son of editor and minister Björn Jónsson. Qualifying in law at the University of Copenhagen, he served on the Reykjavík City Council and was a founding member of the Icelandic Red Cross in 1924.

Björnsson was Iceland's first minister to Denmark (1920–1924, 1926–1940). When Nazi Germany occupied Denmark in 1940, the Althing elected Björnsson as Regent of Iceland (Ríkisstjóri). On June 17, 1944, before thousands gathered at the historic plain of Þingvellir, the Republic of Iceland was formally proclaimed, and Björnsson was elected its first President, serving with calm constitutional dignity until his death in 1952.