Finnbogadóttir, Vigdís (1930–)
Finnbogadóttir, Vigdís (1930–)
President of Iceland. Name variations: Vigdis Finnbogadottir. Born April 15, 1930, in Reykjavik, Iceland; dau. of Finnbogi Rutur (also seen as Ruter) Thorvaldsson (civil engineer and professor at the University of Iceland) and Sigridur Eriksdóttir (nurse and chair of the Icelandic Nurses Association for 36 years); graduate of University of Iceland; attended University of Grenoble and Sorbonne; married, 1953 (div. c. 1962); children: (adopted daughter) Astridur.
Hosted a tv series about theater; directed the Reykjavik Theatre Company (1972–80); became interested in politics (1974), when she helped organize a petition campaign for removal of US naval base at Keflavik; elected president of Iceland (1980); reelected (1984 and 1988), using the largely ceremonial post to promote Icelandic culture and to better the status of women.
See also Women in World History.