Kristján Eldjárn
Categories: 1916 births | 1982 deaths | Presidents of Iceland
Kristján Eldjárn (6 December 1916, Tjörn in Svarfaðardal–14 September 1982, Reykjavík) was 3rd president of Iceland, from 1968 to 1980.
His parents were Þórarinn Kr. Eldjárn, a teacher in Tjörn, and Sigrún Sigurhjartardóttir. He graduated in archaeology from the University of Copenhagen and taught at the University of Reykjavík. In 1957 he was awarded a doctorate for his research into pagan burials in Iceland. He then became director of the The National Museum of Iceland .
Starting as the underdog in the 1968 presidential election, running against ambassador Gunnar Thoroddsen who initially had a 70% lead in the opinion polls, Eldjárn won 65.6% of the vote on a 92.2% voter turnout. He was re-elected unopposed in 1972 and 1976.
| Preceded by: {{{before}}}}|before=Ásgeir Ásgeirsson}} | {{{title}}} {{{years}}}}|title=President of Iceland|years=1968–1980}} | Succeeded by: {{{after}}} |
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