Bj%C3%B6rn Gunnlaugsson

Bjrn Gunnlaugsson was an Icelandic mathematician and cartographer. For the Icelandic Literary Society, he surveyed the country from 1831 to 1843. The results of his work were published in a topographic map of Iceland at a scale of 1480,000 on four sheets. It was the first complete map of Iceland and, although generally dated to 1844, was not completed until 1848. It was published under the direction of Olaf Nikolas Olsen in Copenhagen. In 1849, a smaller edition on one sheet at a scale of 1960,000 appeared. For his survey work, Bjrn received the Order of the Dannebrog in 1846 and the French Lgion dhonneur in 1859.

Bjrn was born at Tannstair, a remote farm on the Hrtafjrur in Hnavatnsssla in northwestern Iceland. Although the family was poor, they sent him to school to the local priests, who recognized his intellectual abilities. In 1808, Bjrn passed an exam in Reykjavk, obtaining a recommendation by the bishop for studying at the university of Copenhagen. But these plans were delayed by the Gunboat War between DenmarkNorway and the United Kingdom. Only after the end of the Napoleonic Wars could Bjrn travel to Denmark and enrolled in 1817 at the University of Copenhagen, where he studied theology and mathematics. During his studies, he won the universitys gold medal for mathematics twice.

Source: Wikipedia