Mayors of Reykjavík since the beginning

Illustration of a swan at the pond in front of Reykjavík City Hall.

The position of Mayor was officially recognized for the first time in Reykjavík's municipal laws enacted in 1907, and it was first advertised in 1908.

Two applied

At that time, Reykjavík was a small town with only about ten thousand residents. It is interesting that the title used was 'Mayor' rather than 'Town Mayor', which likely reflects the aspirations for the capital's role and the ambition that followed the establishment of home rule in 1904.

Two candidates applied for the position in 1908: Páll Einarsson, a county magistrate and town sheriff in Hafnarfjörður, and Knud Zimsen, a town council representative in Reykjavík. Páll was appointed at a town council meeting on May 7. The Mayor's salary at that time was 4500 kr., with an additional 1500 kr. annually for office expenses. Páll was appointed for six years but decided not to continue in his role at the end of his term. Knud Zimsen, who had also applied for the position six years earlier, became the next Mayor.

Since then, the following individuals have served as Mayor of Reykjavík

  • Jón Þorláksson 1932–1935.
  • Pétur Halldórsson 1935–1940.
  • Bjarni Benediktsson served as Mayor from October 8, 1940, to January 9, 1941. He was in office from January 9, 1941, to February 4, 1947.
  • Gunnar Thoroddsen from February 4, 1947, to October 6, 1960.
  • Auður Auðuns and Geir Hallgrímsson were appointed Mayors from November 19, 1959, to October 6, 1960.
  • Geir Hallgrímsson was elected Mayor from October 6, 1960, to December 1, 1972.
  • Birgir Ísleifur Gunnarsson from December 1, 1972, to May 28, 1978.
  • Egill Skúli Ingibergsson from August 15, 1978, to May 27, 1982.
  • Davíð Oddsson from May 27, 1982, to July 16, 1991.
  • Markús Örn Antonsson from July 16, 1991, to March 17, 1994.
  • Árni Sigfússon from March 17, 1994, to June 13, 1994.
  • Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir from June 13, 1994, to February 1, 2003.
  • Þórólfur Árnason from February 1, 2003, to December 1, 2004.
  • Steinunn Valdís Óskarsdóttir from December 1, 2004, to June 13, 2006.
  • Vilhjálmur Þ. Vilhjálmsson from June 13, 2006, to October 16, 2007.
  • Dagur B. Eggertsson from October 16, 2007, to January 24, 2008.
  • Ólafur F. Magnússon from January 24, 2008, to August 21, 2008.
  • Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir from August 21, 2008, to June 15, 2010.
  • Jón Gnarr from June 15, 2010, to June 16, 2014.
  • Dagur B. Eggertsson from June 16, 2014, to January 16, 2024.
  • Einar Þorsteinsson from January 16, 2024, to February 21, 2025
  • Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir from February 21, 2025.

References:

History of Reykjavík - The Town Awakens - Guðjón Friðriksson 1991.

History of Reykjavík - The City - Eggert Þór Bernharðsson 1998.