biography
| name: |
Finnbogadóttir, Vigdís
|
pronunciation:
[finbohgadoteer]
| sex:
| female
|
| lived:
| (1930– )
|
| biography:
| President of Iceland (1980–96), born in Reykjavík, Iceland, the first woman in world history to be elected head of state. She studied French language and literature at the University of Grenoble and the Sorbonne (1949–53), then returned to Iceland to work for the National Theatre and to teach. From 1972 to 1980 she was the director of the Reykjavík City Theatre. In 1980 she stood for the non-political office of President of Iceland, winning a narrow victory against three male candidates; she was returned unopposed in 1984, re-elected in 1988, and returned again for a fourth term in 1992. She became co-chair of the Council of Women World Leaders in 1997. |
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