Jón Sigurdsson, Iceland (1811-1879 )
Scholar and statesman, born in Hrafnseyri, Iceland. Sigurdsson is known as the Father of Independence in Iceland. He led the 19th century struggle for Icelandic self-government under Denmark. An advocate of Icelandic autonomy, Sigurdsson took part in discussions that led to the Danish King Christian IX's restoration of the old Icelandic Althing (parliament) as an advisory body in 1843, and he later became its speaker.
He helped to influence the founding of the Icelandic constitution. In 1874, Denmark granted a constitution that allowed Iceland control its own finances and legislative power that was to be shared with the Danish crown. When full independence was finally achieved in 1944, his birthday was recognised as Iceland's National Day.