Björn Auðunsson Blöndal (1 October 1787 – 23 June 1846) was an Icelandic District Commissioner and politician. He was a member of Alþingi from 1845 to 1846.[1]
Björn Auðunsson Blöndal | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Althing | |
| In office 1845–1846 | |
| Appointed by | Christian VIII of Denmark |
| Sýslumaður in Húnavatnasýsla | |
| In office 1820–1846 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 October 1787 Blöndudalshólar, Iceland |
| Died | 23 June 1846 (aged 58) Hvammur, Vatnsdal, Iceland |
| Resting place | Undirfellskirkjugarður |
| Children | 15 including Lárus Blöndal |
| Alma mater | University of Copenhagen (Hafnarskóli) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
He took the family name Blöndal during his years of study in Copenhagen.[2]
Björn played a significant role in the trial and execution of Agnes Magnúsdóttir and Friðrik Sigurðsson for the murder of Natan Ketilsson.[3][4] They were the last people to be executed in Iceland, being beheaded at Þrístapar near Vatnsdalshólar in Húnavatnshreppur on 12 January 1830.[3]
In popular culture
editAustralian author Hannah Kent's novel Burial Rites was based on the story of Agnes and Friðrik and featured Björn as a character.[5]
References
edit- ^ Jón Gíslason (1 November 1987). "Minning Björn Auðunssonar Blöndals og konu hans Guðrúnar Þórðardóttur". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). p. 30. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ "Björn Blöndal". Alþingi (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2022-01-22.
- ^ a b "Hvenær var síðasta aftakan á Íslandi?". Vísindavefurinn (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2022-01-22.
- ^ Sigrún Huld Þorgrímsdóttir (21 May 2005). "Agnes og Friðrik - fyrir og eftir dauðann". Lesbók Morgunblaðsins (in Icelandic). Morgunblaðið. pp. 1, 4–5. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ Karl Blöndal (9 October 2014). "Glæpur Agnesar og refsing". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 23 January 2022.
External links
edit- Biography at Alþingi
- Resting place at Garður.is (in Icelandic), retrieved 22 January 2022
- Þrístapar