About Finnur Jónsson
Lived 1704 – 1789 (aged 85). Finnur Jónsson was an Icelandic theologian, historian, bishop and parson.
Finnur Jónsson (16 January 1704 – 23 July 1789) was an Icelandic pastor who served as Bishop of Skálholt from 1754 to 1785. He attended the University of Copenhagen and became a pastor at Reykholt in 1732. He was reluctant to become a bishop due to the administrative duties the office entailed. He was also an accomplished scholar. In 1774, he became the first Icelander to receive a Doctor of Theology degree. From 1772 to 1778, he published Historia Ecclesiastica Islandiæ, a four-volume work containing publications of the church in Iceland in Latin.
Finnur's son, Hannes Finnsson, succeeded his father as Bishop of Skálholt, having been ordained a bishop in 1777. Finnur's wife was Guðríður Gísladóttir (1707–1766).
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Finnur Jónsson's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Finnur Jónsson?
Icelandic bishop (1704-1789)
When was Finnur Jónsson born?
Finnur Jónsson was born on 16 January 1704 in Hítarvatn.
When did Finnur Jónsson die?
Finnur Jónsson died on 23 July 1789 in Skálholt.
What was Finnur Jónsson's occupation?
Finnur Jónsson was a theologian, historian, bishop and parson.
What nationality was Finnur Jónsson?
Finnur Jónsson was Icelandic.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Finnur Jónsson (bishop)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Finnur Jónsson. https://biography.guide/finnur-jonsson/
MLA: "Finnur Jónsson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/finnur-jonsson/.
Chicago: "Finnur Jónsson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/finnur-jonsson/.
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