Finnbogadóttir, Vigdís

Finnbogadóttir, Vigdís
born April 15, 1930, Reykjavík, Ice.

Teacher and president of Iceland (1980–96).

After graduating from Reykjavík College in 1949, Finnbogadóttir attended the University of Grenoble and the Sorbonne in France and the University of Uppsala in Sweden. She also studied in Denmark and at the University of Iceland, where she later taught. From 1972 to 1980, while serving as director of the Reykjavík Theatre Company, Finnbogadóttir presented French lessons and cultural programming on Iceland State Television. In 1980 she was drafted as a candidate for the presidency of Iceland and was narrowly elected, defeating three male opponents, thereby becoming the first woman in the world to be elected head of state in a national election. She was reelected three times (1984, 1988, and 1992) before retiring from office in 1996.

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▪ president of Iceland
born April 15, 1930, Reykjavík, Iceland
 
 teacher, cultural figure, and politician who served as president of Iceland from 1980 to 1996. She was the first woman in the world to be elected head of state in a national election.

      Finnbogadóttir was born into a wealthy and well-connected family. Her mother chaired Iceland's national nurses association, and her father was a civil engineer. After graduating from Reykjavík College in 1949, Finnbogadóttir attended the University of Grenoble and the Sorbonne in France and the University of Uppsala in Sweden. She also studied in Denmark and at the University of Iceland, where she later taught French, drama, and theatre history.

      From 1972 to 1980 Finnbogadóttir served as director of the Reykjavík Theatre Company (Leikfélag Reykjavíkur) and participated in an experimental theatre group. During that period, she presented French lessons and cultural programming on Iceland State Television, a task that enhanced her national reputation and popularity. During the summer tourist season, she also served as a guide and translator for the Icelandic Tourist Bureau. She became a member of the Advisory Committee on Cultural Affairs in Nordic Countries in 1976 and was elected its chair in 1978.

      In 1980, despite being a divorced single mother (she adopted a daughter in 1972), Finnbogadóttir was drafted as a candidate for the presidency of Iceland; she was narrowly elected, with 33.6 percent of the national vote, over three male opponents. She was subsequently reelected three times (1984, 1988, and 1992) before retiring in 1996. Although the Icelandic presidency is largely a ceremonial position, she took an active role in promoting the country as a cultural ambassador and enjoyed great popularity.

      In 1996 she became founding chair of the Council of Women World Leaders at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Two years later she was appointed president of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Finnbogadóttir, Vigdís — (n. 15 abr. 1930, Reykjavík, Islandia). Profesora y presidenta de Islandia (1980–96). Después de graduarse del Colegio Reykjavík en 1949, asistió a la Universidad de Grenoble y la Sorbona en Francia y a la Universidad de Uppsala en Suecia.… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Vigdis Finnbogadottir — Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Vigdís Finnbogadóttir 4e présidente de la République d Islande …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Vigdis Finnbogadottir — Vigdís Finnbogadóttir (* 15. April 1930 in Reykjavík) war von 1980 bis 1996 Präsidentin von Island. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Ausbildung 2 Theater 3 Politik 4 Siehe auch // …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Vigdis Finnbogadóttir — Vigdís Finnbogadóttir (* 15. April 1930 in Reykjavík) war von 1980 bis 1996 Präsidentin von Island. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Ausbildung 2 Theater 3 Politik 4 Siehe auch // …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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  • Vigdís Finnbogadóttir — 4ª presidenta de Islandia …   Wikipedia Español

  • Vigdís Finnbogadóttir — Mandats 4e présidente de la République d Islande …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Vigdís Finnbogadóttir — bei einem Besuch in Rochefort (Frankreich) Vigdís Finnbogadóttir [ vɪɣtiˑs fɪnpɔɣaˌtouhtɪr] (* 15. April 1930 in Reykjavík) war von 1980 bis 1996 Präsidentin von Island …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Vigdís Finnbogadóttir — (nacida en Reykjavík el 15 de abril de 1930) fue la cuarta presidenta de Islandia en el período comprendido entre 1980 y 1996. Hija de Finnbogi Rút Þorvaldsson (ingeniero civil y profesor de la universidad de la capital) y Sigríður Eiríksdóttir… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Vigdís Finnbogadóttir — Infobox President | name=Vigdís Finnbogadóttir order=4th President of Iceland term start=1 August 1980 term end=1 August 1996 predecessor=Kristján Eldjárn successor=Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson birth date=flagicon|Iceland Reykjavík, Iceland death date …   Wikipedia

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