Kristján Eldjárn
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| Kristján Eldjárn | |
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| In office 30 July 1968 – 29 July 1980 |
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| Preceded by | Ásgeir Ásgeirsson |
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| Succeeded by | Vigdís Finnbogadóttir |
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| Born | December 6, 1916 |
| Died | September 14, 1982 |
Dr. Kristján Eldjárn (IPA: [ˈkʰrɪstjaun ˈɛltjautn]) (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 Iceland. In 1957 he was awarded a doctorate for his research into pagan burials in Iceland. He was the director of the The National Museum of Iceland from 1947 to 1968.
In 1966-68 he hosted a series of educational TV programs on the (then new) Icelandic National Television (RÚV), in which he showed the audience some of the National Museum's artefacts and explained their historical context. These programs became quite popular, making him a well known and respected popular figure. This no doubt gave him the incentive needed to run in the 1968 presidential election as a politically non-affiliated candidate.
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. In 1980 he decided not to run for another term, wanting to devote his remaining years entirely to continuing his lifelong academic work.
His son Þórarinn Eldjárn is one of Iceland's most popular authors, specializing in short stories, but also writing poetry and an occasional novel. His daughter Sigrún Eldjárn is also an author and illustrator of several children's books.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Ásgeir Ásgeirsson |
President of Iceland 1968–1980 |
Succeeded by Vigdís Finnbogadóttir |
| Presidents of Iceland |  |
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| Sveinn Björnsson • Ásgeir Ásgeirsson • Kristján Eldjárn • Vigdís Finnbogadóttir • Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson |
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