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Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal

1924 – 2010

Icelandic politician

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About Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal

Lived 1924 – 2010 (aged 86). Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal was an Icelandic diplomat and politician.

Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal (; 7 July 1924 – 20 July 2010) was an Icelandic politician who served as prime minister of Iceland for 116 days in a minority government from 1979 to 1980. A member of the Social Democratic Party, he was minister of Foreign Affairs from 1978 to 1980 and the only Icelandic prime minister who served in two cabinet roles simultaneously.

His government was the second Social Democrat minority government of Iceland, formed after the collapse of Ólafur Jóhannesson's cabinet, with Gröndal's cabinet only being formed as a temporary solution until the 1979 parliamentary election. His cabinet was defeated in the election and his party was not asked to form the next cabinet. Gröndal was a member of Althingi from 1956 to 1982 and led his party from 1974 to 1980. He attended the United Nations General Assembly in 1966.

After leaving the political scene in 1982, Gröndal was appointed ambassador of Iceland to Sweden and Finland. After residing for some years in Stockholm, he served as roving ambassador to the Far East, including Australia, China, South Korea and Japan. After serving two years as representative to the United Nations, Benedikt Gröndal retired to his native home in 1991. He died on 20 July 2010 at the age of 86.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Harvard University, University of Oxford, Harvard College
Positions held
Prime Minister of Iceland, Member of the Althing, Ambassador of Iceland to Albania, Ambassador
Also known as
Benedikt Sigurdsson Gröndal

People in Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal?

Icelandic politician (1924-2010)

When was Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal born?

Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal was born on 7 July 1924 in Ísafjarðarbær.

When did Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal die?

Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal died on 20 July 2010 in Reykjavík.

What was Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal's occupation?

Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal was a diplomat and politician.

What nationality was Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal?

Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal was Icelandic.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal

· Wikidata: Q712686

· DBpedia: Benedikt Gröndal (born 1924)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal. https://biography.guide/benedikt-sigurdsson-grondal/

MLA: "Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/benedikt-sigurdsson-grondal/.

Chicago: "Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/benedikt-sigurdsson-grondal/.

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