Ásgeirsson, Ásgeir

Ásgeirsson, Ásgeir (äs`kĕr äs`kĕrsôn), 1894–1972, Icelandic statesman, president of Iceland (1952–68). He was a member of the Icelandic parliament from 1923 to 1952, headed the government bureau of education (1926–31, 1934–38), and served as minister of finance (1931–34) and prime minister (1932–34). He was (1946–52) governor of the International Monetary Fund. In 1952 he was elected president of Iceland, and he was reelected in 1956, 1960, and 1964.

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Ásgeirsson, Ásgeir 

Born May 13, 1894, in Kóranes. An Icelandic statesman.

In 1915, Ásgeirsson graduated from the theological faculty of Reykjavik University. From 1923 to 1952 he was a deputy of the Alingri, and from 1923 to 1933 he was one of the leaders of the Progressive (Farmer) Party. In 1931–34 he was minister of finance, and in 1932–34, the prime minister of the Social Democrat and Progressive coalition government. In 1934 he switched to the Social Democrat Party, which he left in 1952 upon his election to the post of president. He was reelected president in 1956, 1960, and 1964.