Ólafur Jóhannesson | |
---|---|
17th Prime Minister of Iceland | |
In office 1 September 1978 – 15 October 1979 |
|
President | Kristján Eldjárn |
Preceded by | Geir Hallgrímsson |
Succeeded by | Benedikt Gröndal |
In office 14 July 1971 – 28 August 1974 |
|
President | Kristján Eldjárn |
Preceded by | Jóhann Hafstein |
Succeeded by | Geir Hallgrímsson |
Personal details | |
Born |
Skagafjörður, Iceland |
1 March 1913
Died | 20 May 1984 | (aged 71)
Political party | Progressive Party |
Alma mater | University of Iceland |
Ólafur Jóhannesson (1 March 1913 – 20 May 1984) was the fifteenth Prime Minister of Iceland for the Progressive Party on two occasions. He was a member of the Progressive Party, serving as party chairman during the 1970s.
Ólafur was educated at Akureyri Junior College (matriculated 1935), and studied law at the University of Iceland (graduated 1939, Hdl. 1942). Following postgraduate studies in Denmark and Sweden, he worked as a lawyer and accountant, before returning to academia, becoming a lecturer and serving as a professor of law at the University of Iceland 1947–78.
He served as Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Minister Ecclesiastical Affairs 1971–74 and 1978–79; Minister for Justice, Minister Ecclesiastical Affairs and Trade Secretary 1974–78; and Foreign Minister 1980–83. During his tenure, Jóhannesson headed the government that defied Great Britain during the Cod War.
In 1941, Ólafur married Dóra Guðbjartsdóttir (1915−2004). They had three children.