About Eggert Ólafsson
Lived 1726 – 1768 (aged 41). Eggert Ólafsson was an Icelandic explorer, writer, poet and naturalist.
Eggert Ólafsson (1 December 1726 – 30 May 1768) was an Icelandic explorer, writer and conservator of the Icelandic language. He also worked to revive the Icelandic culture and economy.
Background He was the son of a farmer from Svefneyjar in Breiðafjörður. He studied natural sciences, Classics, Grammar, Law, and Agriculture at the University of Copenhagen. He obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Copenhagen. In 1772 he posthumously published Reise igiennem Island (Travels in Iceland), an account of the scientific and cultural survey he conducted between 1752 and 1757. The book remains a seminal work on Iceland and its people.
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Eggert Ólafsson?
Icelandic writer and explorer (1726-1768)
When was Eggert Ólafsson born?
Eggert Ólafsson was born on 1 December 1726 in Snæfellsnes, Svefneyjar.
When did Eggert Ólafsson die?
Eggert Ólafsson died on 30 May 1768.
What was Eggert Ólafsson's occupation?
Eggert Ólafsson was an explorer, writer, poet and naturalist.
What nationality was Eggert Ólafsson?
Eggert Ólafsson was Icelandic.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Eggert Ólafsson. https://biography.guide/eggert-olafsson/
MLA: "Eggert Ólafsson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/eggert-olafsson/.
Chicago: "Eggert Ólafsson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/eggert-olafsson/.
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