Finnbogadóttir, Vigdís

Finnbogadóttir, Vigdís (vĭg`dēs fĭn'bōgədô`tĭr), 1930–, Icelandic teacher and politician, president of Iceland (1980–96). She first became a public figure as the director of the Reykjavik theatre company (1972–80), and as the presenter of a television series on French language and literature. She was a member (1976–78) and then chair (1978–80) of the Advisory Committee on Cultural Affairs in Nordic Countries. She was elected president of Iceland in 1980 with support from a center-right coalition, becoming the first woman to be a popularly elected head of state. Although the Icelandic presidency is a largely ceremonial office, Finnbogadóttir enhanced the international stature of the post and of Iceland. Reelected in 1984, 1988, and 1992, she retired in 1996.

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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.