Bjarni Benediktsson

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Bjarni Benediktsson

Prime Minister of Iceland
In office November 14, 1962 – July 10, 1970
Preceded by	Ólafur Thors
Succeeded by	Jóhann Hafstein

Born	April 30, 1908
Died	July 10, 1970
Political party	Independence Party

Bjarni Benediktsson (April 30, 1908 - July 10, 1970) was Prime Minister of Iceland from 14 November 1963 to 10 July 1970. His father, Benedikt Sveinsson (1877-1954), was a leader in the independence movement in Iceland and a member of Althingi from 1908 to 1931.

Bjarni studied constitutional law and became professor at the University of Iceland at the age of only 24. He was elected to the city council in Reykjavík in 1934 as a member of the Independence Party and from 1940 to 1947 was mayor of the city.

In 1947 he became Foreign Minister and served in various posts in cabinets until 1956. His tenure included the establishment of Iceland as a founding member of NATO in 1949. In 1956, when the left-wing parties formed a coalition government, Bjarni, out of office, became editor of Morgunblaðið, a leading conservative newspaper.

In 1959, when the Independence Party formed a coalition government with the Social Democrats, Bjarni became Minister of Justice. Two years later he was elected chairman of the Independence Party and in 1963 he took over from Ólafur Thors as Prime Minister. He served in this position until his tragic death, which was caused by a fire at a government summer house at Thingvellir; his wife and grandson also perished in the blaze.

Bjarni was the father of Björn Bjarnason and the father-in-law of Vilmundur Gylfason.

Preceded by Ólafur Thors	Chairman of the Independence Party 1961–1970	Succeeded by Jóhann Hafstein
Preceded by Ólafur Thors	Prime Minister of Iceland 1963–1970	Succeeded by Jóhann Hafstein