Vilmundur Gylfason
Encyclopedia
Vilmundur Gylfason was an Iceland
ic politician, historian and poet. He was the son of Gylfi Þ. Gíslason
and Guðrún Vilmundardóttir.
, a member of parliament, government minister and professor. His mother, Guðrún Vilmundardóttir, was a housewife and worked as a journalist for some time.
Vilmundur had two brothers, Þorsteinn Gylfason
the philosopher, and Þorvaldur Gylfason, an economist.
Vilmundur was married to Valgerður Bjarnadóttir, daughter of Bjarni Benediktsson
.
, an Icelandic Junior College, from 1964 to 1968. He was editor of the student paper, served as inspector scholae for a year and was an active participant in student life. He graduated with an emphasis on languages.
Upon graduation, he studied in England and in 1971 he finished a BA Degree in literature and history at the University of Manchester
. In 1973 he finished an MA degree in the same subjects at University of Exeter
.
When he returned to Iceland in 1973, he received a job as a teacher of history at Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík
and wrote articles in the Icelandic newspapers. He taught at MR until his death.
He was a friend of Jón Ormur Halldórsson, a political scientist and politician.
Vilmundur was active in setting up radio programs on arts and culture, was a major participant in starting the Helgarpósturinn newspaper, and founded and served as editor of Nýtt land. He also published two poetry books, Myndir og ljóðbrot (1970) and Ljóð (1980).
Vilmundur and his wife lost their son in a fire at a government summer house at Þingvellir
on 10 July 1970, where he had been residing with his grandparents prime minister
Bjarni Benediktsson
and wife who also perished in the blaze.
Vilmundur committed suicide on 19 June 1983. He was intoxicated and strangled himself in the parliamentary hall.
In the Icelandic parliament elections of 1971, Vilmundur stood as candidate for Alþýðuflokkurinn (English: "People's Party") in the Vestfirðir electorate. He was an active participant in the operations of the party and held a number of positions within it. He was the editor of Alþýðublaðið, the party newspaper, for a year. In the 1978 elections, Vilmundur was a candidate in Reykjavík
and was voted into office. From October 1979 to February 1980 he served as minister of justice, religion and education in the minority government of Alþýðuflokkurinn.
In 1982, Vilmundur left the Alþýðuflokkurinn and founded his own party in 1983, Bandalag jafnaðarmanna ("Egalitarian Alliance"). In the parliamentary elections of 1983 the party got four MP's in Alþingi.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic politician, historian and poet. He was the son of Gylfi Þ. Gíslason
Gylfi Þ. Gíslason
Gylfi Þorsteinsson Gíslason was an Icelandic politician and member of Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament....
and Guðrún Vilmundardóttir.
Family
Vilmundur's father was Gylfi Þ. GíslasonGylfi Þ. Gíslason
Gylfi Þorsteinsson Gíslason was an Icelandic politician and member of Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament....
, a member of parliament, government minister and professor. His mother, Guðrún Vilmundardóttir, was a housewife and worked as a journalist for some time.
Vilmundur had two brothers, Þorsteinn Gylfason
Þorsteinn Gylfason
Þorsteinn Gylfason was an Icelandic philosopher, translator, musician, poet, art enthusiast and intellectual. Þorsteinn was born and raised in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. His parents were Guðrún Vilmundardóttir and Gylfi Þ. Gíslason, a university professor and government minister...
the philosopher, and Þorvaldur Gylfason, an economist.
Vilmundur was married to Valgerður Bjarnadóttir, daughter of Bjarni Benediktsson
Bjarni Benediktsson
Bjarni Benediktsson was Prime Minister of Iceland from 14 November 1963 to 10 July 1970. His father, Benedikt Sveinsson , was a leader in the independence movement in Iceland and a member of Althingi from 1908 to 1931.Bjarni studied constitutional law and became professor at the University of...
.
Life and work
Vilmundur studied at Menntaskólinn í ReykjavíkMenntaskólinn í Reykjavík
Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík is the oldest gymnasium in Reykjavík, Iceland....
, an Icelandic Junior College, from 1964 to 1968. He was editor of the student paper, served as inspector scholae for a year and was an active participant in student life. He graduated with an emphasis on languages.
Upon graduation, he studied in England and in 1971 he finished a BA Degree in literature and history at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
. In 1973 he finished an MA degree in the same subjects at University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
.
When he returned to Iceland in 1973, he received a job as a teacher of history at Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík
Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík
Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík is the oldest gymnasium in Reykjavík, Iceland....
and wrote articles in the Icelandic newspapers. He taught at MR until his death.
He was a friend of Jón Ormur Halldórsson, a political scientist and politician.
Vilmundur was active in setting up radio programs on arts and culture, was a major participant in starting the Helgarpósturinn newspaper, and founded and served as editor of Nýtt land. He also published two poetry books, Myndir og ljóðbrot (1970) and Ljóð (1980).
Vilmundur and his wife lost their son in a fire at a government summer house at Þingvellir
Þingvellir
|Thing]] Fields) is a place in Bláskógabyggð in southwestern Iceland, near the peninsula of Reykjanes and the Hengill volcanic area. Þingvellir is a site of historical, cultural, and geological importance and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. It is the site of a rift...
on 10 July 1970, where he had been residing with his grandparents prime minister
Prime Minister of Iceland
The Prime Minister of Iceland is Iceland's head of government. The prime minister is appointed formally by the President and exercises executive authority along with the cabinet subject to parliamentary support....
Bjarni Benediktsson
Bjarni Benediktsson
Bjarni Benediktsson was Prime Minister of Iceland from 14 November 1963 to 10 July 1970. His father, Benedikt Sveinsson , was a leader in the independence movement in Iceland and a member of Althingi from 1908 to 1931.Bjarni studied constitutional law and became professor at the University of...
and wife who also perished in the blaze.
Vilmundur committed suicide on 19 June 1983. He was intoxicated and strangled himself in the parliamentary hall.
Politics
Vilmundur's political opinions were very much shaped by his stay in England, and were decidedly left-wing.In the Icelandic parliament elections of 1971, Vilmundur stood as candidate for Alþýðuflokkurinn (English: "People's Party") in the Vestfirðir electorate. He was an active participant in the operations of the party and held a number of positions within it. He was the editor of Alþýðublaðið, the party newspaper, for a year. In the 1978 elections, Vilmundur was a candidate in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
and was voted into office. From October 1979 to February 1980 he served as minister of justice, religion and education in the minority government of Alþýðuflokkurinn.
In 1982, Vilmundur left the Alþýðuflokkurinn and founded his own party in 1983, Bandalag jafnaðarmanna ("Egalitarian Alliance"). In the parliamentary elections of 1983 the party got four MP's in Alþingi.
Sources
- MorgunblaðiðMorgunblaðiðMorgunblaðið is a newspaper published in Iceland, founded by Vilhjálmur Finsen & Olaf Björnsson, brother to the first president. The first issue, only eight pages long, was published on 2 November 1913. Six years later, in 1919, the corporation Árvakur bought out the company...
, 21. Júní 1983, bls. 46. - MorgunblaðiðMorgunblaðiðMorgunblaðið is a newspaper published in Iceland, founded by Vilhjálmur Finsen & Olaf Björnsson, brother to the first president. The first issue, only eight pages long, was published on 2 November 1913. Six years later, in 1919, the corporation Árvakur bought out the company...
, 28. Júní 1983, bls. 14, 15, 35, 36. - Biography on the Alþingi website