Ólafur Jóhannesson

This article is about the prime minister of Iceland. For the football manager, see Ólafur Jóhannesson (football manager). For the regisseur, see Olaf de Fleur.

This is an Icelandic name. The last name is patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Ólafur.

Ólafur Jóhannesson (1 March 1913 – 20 May 1984) was twice the Prime Minister of Iceland for the Progressive Party (1971–1974 and 1978–1979). He was a member of the Progressive Party, serving as party chairman from 1968 to 1979.^[1]

Ólafur Jóhannesson
19th 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
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 8 February 1980 – 26 May 1983
Prime Minister	Gunnar Thoroddsen
Preceded by	Benedikt Gröndal
Succeeded by	Geir Hallgrímsson
Personal details
Born	(1913-03-01)1 March 1913 Skagafjörður, Iceland
Died	20 May 1984(1984-05-20) (aged 71)
Political party	Progressive Party
Alma mater	University of Iceland

Career

Ólafur was educated at Akureyri Junior College (matriculated 1935), and studied law at the University of Iceland (graduated 1939, Hdl. 1942).^[2] 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.^[2] As Minister for Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs, he recognised Ásatrúarfélagið as a religious organisation in May 1973. During his tenure, Ólafur headed the government that defied the United Kingdom during the Cod War.^[3]

Ólafur became the Progressive Party leader in 1968 and formed a cabinet with him as a prime minister following the 1971 election. After the 1974 election, Geir Hallgrímsson, the chairman of the Independence Party, formed a new cabinet with the Progressive Party where Geir was prime minister. After the 1978 election, Ólafur became prime minister again and formed a new left-wing cabinet. In October 1979 Ólafur decided to dissolve the coalition because of economic disagreements, including because of high inflation and high gas prices.^[4] Ólafur left as party leader later that year but served as an MP until his death in 1984. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1980 to 1983 in Gunnar Thoroddsen's cabinet.

Family

In 1941, Ólafur married Dóra Guðbjartsdóttir (1915−2004). They had three children.^[5]