Sigurður Bjarnason (18 December 1915 – 5 January 2012) was an

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

ic politician and diplomat. He was born and grew up in Vigur in Ögur Parish in

Norður-Ísafjarðarsýsla Iceland was historically divided into 23 counties known as ''sýslur'' (), and 23 independent towns known as ''kaupstaðir'' (). Iceland is now split up between 24 sýslumenn (magistrates) that are the highest authority over the local police ( ...

, Iceland. He was the eldest of the six children of Björg Björnsdóttir (7 July 1889 – 24 January 1977) and Bjarni Sigurðsson (24 July 1889 – 30 July 1974). He graduated from high school in 1935 and read law at the

University of Iceland The University of Iceland ( ) is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' school to a modern co ...

, graduating in 1941, then pursued postgraduate studies at the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

, England. He worked for the newspaper ''

Morgunblaðið ''Morgunblaðið'' (, ''The Morning Paper'') is an Icelandic daily newspaper. ''Morgunblaðið''s website, mbl.is, is the most popular website in Iceland. It is currently the country's only daily printed newspaper and the newspaper of record. Hi ...

'' as reporter, then political editor and finally editor from 1956 to 1970. He served as speaker of the Lower House of the Althing 1949 to 1956 and again from 1963 to 1970. He was later the Icelandic ambassador to

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

(1970–1976),

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

(1970–1976),

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

(1970–1983),

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

(1973–1976),

the United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

(1976–1982),

the Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

(1976–1982),

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

(1976–1982),

Cyprus Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...

(1983–1985), and

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

(1984–1985). Sigurður served as the

President of the Nordic Council The Nordic Council is the official body for formal inter-parliamentary Nordic cooperation among the Nordic countries. Formed in 1952, it has 87 representatives from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden as well as from the autonomo ...

from 1965 to 1966. He sat on the

United Nations General Assembly The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA; , AGNU or AG) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as its main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ. Currently in its Seventy-ninth session of th ...

from 1960 to 1962. He married sculptor

Ólöf Pálsdóttir Ólöf Pálsdóttir (14 April 1920 – 21 February 2018) was an Icelandic sculptor, and was responsible for one of the most-prominently located statues in Reykjavík, that of a cellist in the water next to the new concert hall. Early life Ólö ...

(14 April 1920 – 21 February 2018) on 5 February 1956; they had two children, Hildur Helga and Ólafur Páll.

References

External links

Biography at the Icelandic parliament's website
(in Icelandic) Bjarnason, Sigurdur Bjarnason, Sigurdur Speakers of the Althing Ambassadors of Iceland to Turkey Ambassadors of Iceland to Ireland Ambassadors of Iceland to China Ambassadors of Iceland to the United Kingdom Ambassadors of Iceland to the Netherlands Ambassadors of Iceland to Nigeria Ambassadors of Iceland to Cyprus Ambassadors of Iceland to India {{Iceland-politician-stub