Vigdís Finnbogadóttir is remembered in public life for work that changed what came after it.
The record lists Vigdís Finnbogadóttir as Icelandic politician, 4th President of Iceland.
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was born at Reykjavík in 1930. Her recorded nationality is Iceland. She was educated at Faculty of Arts of Paris and University of Copenhagen.
Twentieth-century politics was conducted under the shadow of two world wars, decolonisation and the Cold War, and broadcast to electorates that could watch it happen.
She served as President of Iceland (1980–1996).
Her political affiliation is recorded as Independence Party.
The test of a public life is what remained possible afterwards that had not been possible before.
Formal honours included the Order of the Elephant (1981), Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav (1982), Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (1982) and Collar of the Order of Charles III (1985).
That the career was made in Iceland is not incidental: the institutions available, the franchise, and the constraints of the moment all shaped what could be attempted.
Achievements
- President of Iceland (1980–1996)
- Order of the Elephant — 1981
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav — 1982
- Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland — 1982
- Collar of the Order of Charles III — 1985
- Educated at Faculty of Arts of Paris and University of Copenhagen
