Johnson was born at Hólar in the Skagafjörður district of northern Iceland on July 10, 1883, the oldest of ten children born to John and Gudbjorn Johnson.[2][3] He came to Dakota Territory with his parents in 1887 at the age of four. His family settled on a farm in Pembina County, North Dakota.[3]
Johnson received his early education in the state's public schools, completing the combined seven-year high school and college course in four years.[3] He then attended the University of North Dakota, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1906, a Master of Arts degree in 1907 and a law degree in 1908. He subsequently undertook graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin. Upon graduation from law school, Johnson went to Bismarck, North Dakota, where he organized the legislative reference library as an employee of the Public Library Commission.[4][3]
North Dakota legal careeredit
In 1911 Johnson opened a law office in Cavalier, North Dakota. In 1913, he moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota to become a law partner of J. F. T. O'Connor.[3] In 1913 and 1915, he assisted members of the state legislature in drafting bills.[3] While overseeing his private practice, Johnson simultaneously lectured in Political Science and Law at the University of North Dakota.[5] In 1916, Johnson ran for State's Attorney of Grand Forks County, but lost to the incumbent.[6][7]
Johnson resigned from the University of Illinois on September 1, 1944. He ran unsuccessfully against Barrett for the position of Illinois Attorney General in 1944.[1][10] On January 1, 1945, he opened a law office in Chicago, practicing law in both Chicago and Champaign, Illinois.[1]
Johnson was the author of numerous books on law and history, particularly with regards to his native Iceland.[5] He was a recipient of honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Iceland in 1930 and the University of North Dakota.[1] In 1939 he was decorated a Knight of the Order of the Falcon by Christian X of Denmark.[5]
^North Dakota Public Library Commission (1908). "First Biennial Report of the North Dakota Public Library Commission, 1907-1908" (PDF). North Dakota State Library. OCLC 14943719. (PDF) from the original on 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
^ abcde"Sveinbjorn Johnson, Former Counsel At State University, Dies at Age 62". Daily Dispatch. March 20, 1946. p. 2.
^Chronicling America (1921-10-27). "Serious charges against leading state officials still remain unanswered". The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.). p. 3. ISSN 2333-0058. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
^"Sveinbjorn Resigns Supreme Court Work". The Daily Illini. November 30, 1926. p. 1.
sveinbjorn, johnson, sveinbjörn, johnson, july, 1883, march, 1946, icelandic, born, american, lawyer, politician, scholar, picture, johnson, printed, bismarck, tribune, 1946, 12th, attorney, general, north, dakotain, office, 1921, 1922preceded, bywilliam, lemk. Sveinbjorn Johnson July 10 1883 March 16 1946 was an Icelandic born American lawyer politician and scholar 1 Sveinbjorn JohnsonPicture of Johnson printed in The Bismarck Tribune 1946 12th Attorney General of North DakotaIn office 1921 1922Preceded byWilliam LemkeSucceeded byGeorge F ShaferPersonal detailsBorn 1883 07 10 July 10 1883Holar IcelandDiedMarch 16 1946 1946 03 16 aged 62 Champaign Illinois U S EducationUniversity of North Dakota Contents 1 Biography 2 North Dakota legal career 3 Illinois legal career 4 Selected works 5 References 6 External linksBiography editJohnson was born at Holar in the Skagafjordur district of northern Iceland on July 10 1883 the oldest of ten children born to John and Gudbjorn Johnson 2 3 He came to Dakota Territory with his parents in 1887 at the age of four His family settled on a farm in Pembina County North Dakota 3 Johnson received his early education in the state s public schools completing the combined seven year high school and college course in four years 3 He then attended the University of North Dakota where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1906 a Master of Arts degree in 1907 and a law degree in 1908 He subsequently undertook graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin Upon graduation from law school Johnson went to Bismarck North Dakota where he organized the legislative reference library as an employee of the Public Library Commission 4 3 North Dakota legal career editIn 1911 Johnson opened a law office in Cavalier North Dakota In 1913 he moved to Grand Forks North Dakota to become a law partner of J F T O Connor 3 In 1913 and 1915 he assisted members of the state legislature in drafting bills 3 While overseeing his private practice Johnson simultaneously lectured in Political Science and Law at the University of North Dakota 5 In 1916 Johnson ran for State s Attorney of Grand Forks County but lost to the incumbent 6 7 Following the recall of William Lemke Johnson after receiving the endorsement of the Independent Voters Association was elected North Dakota Attorney General in 1921 In 1922 he was elected justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court defeating the incumbent James Robinson 8 1 On December 1 1926 Johnson resigned from the North Dakota Supreme Court and became legal counsel and Professor of Law at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign 1 9 Illinois legal career editJohnson became a professor of law at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in 1926 In 1942 while serving as state director of the federal office of government reports Johnson became involved in a heated controversy with Illinois Attorney General George F Barrett over the matter of holding federal and state jobs at the same time 5 Johnson resigned from the University of Illinois on September 1 1944 He ran unsuccessfully against Barrett for the position of Illinois Attorney General in 1944 1 10 On January 1 1945 he opened a law office in Chicago practicing law in both Chicago and Champaign Illinois 1 Johnson suffered from a heart attack in his office and died on March 16 1946 He was survived by his wife Esther Slette of Manchester Minnesota and his son Paul who served as a captain in the United States Army during World War II 5 Johnson was the author of numerous books on law and history particularly with regards to his native Iceland 5 He was a recipient of honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Iceland in 1930 and the University of North Dakota 1 In 1939 he was decorated a Knight of the Order of the Falcon by Christian X of Denmark 5 Selected works editPioneers of Freedom 1930References edit a b c d e f Sveinbjorn Johnson North Dakota Supreme Court Retrieved December 29 2019 Sveinbjorn Johnson Chicago Bar Records 28 187 1946 a b c d e f Former N D Supreme Court Justice Dies The Bismarck Tribune March 20 1946 p 1 North Dakota Public Library Commission 1908 First Biennial Report of the North Dakota Public Library Commission 1907 1908 PDF North Dakota State Library OCLC 14943719 Archived PDF from the original on 2023 12 07 Retrieved 2023 12 07 a b c d e Sveinbjorn Johnson Former Counsel At State University Dies at Age 62 Daily Dispatch March 20 1946 p 2 Grand Forks herald volume 1916 11 18 8 The nonpartisan leader volume 1916 11 02 34 Chronicling America 1921 10 27 Serious charges against leading state officials still remain unanswered The weekly times record Valley City N D p 3 ISSN 2333 0058 Retrieved 2023 12 07 Sveinbjorn Resigns Supreme Court Work The Daily Illini November 30 1926 p 1 Johnson Sveinbjorn 1883 1946 The Political Graveyard Retrieved December 29 2019 External links editSveinbjorn Johnson at Find a Grave Sveinbjorn Johnson at WorldCat Party political offices Preceded byWilliam Lemke Republican nominee for North Dakota Attorney General1921 Succeeded byGeorge F Shafer Preceded byHarold G Ward Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Illinois1944 Succeeded byIvan A Elliott Legal offices Preceded byWilliam Lemke Attorney General of North Dakota1921 1922 Succeeded byGeorge F Shafer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sveinbjorn Johnson amp oldid 1215091268, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
