Unable to complete his studies for financial reasons Þorvaldur accepted a teaching placement at Möðruvellir in the north of Iceland in 1880 and worked there until 1885 when he became an adjunct at the Learned School. In 1887 he married Þóra, daughter of bishop Pétur Pétursson.[3] They had one child, Sigríður (1888–1903). Þóra died in 1917.[4]
In 1899, Þorvaldur resigned his position at the Learned School. The Althing granted him a generous pension which enabled him to live in Copenhagen and work on research and writing.[4] In 1894, he was granted an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Copenhagen and in 1902 he was named Professor.[5]
Workedit
During his expedition with Johnstrup, Þorvaldur was stricken by the nature of Iceland's large uninhabited areas. He resolved to investigate the nature of the island, especially its geology which up till then had been sparsely mapped and studied.[6] From 1881 to 1898 he undertook expeditions to gather data. During his work, Þorvaldur ran into the limitations of the 1848 map of Iceland by Björn Gunnlaugsson. Björn had concentrated his precise measurements on the inhabited areas and a significant amount of work remained to be done in the central highlands. In 1901 Þorvaldur published a geological map of Iceland, where he incorporated his corrections to Björn Gunnlaugsson's map.[7]
During the time he lived in Copenhagen, Þorvaldur wrote a number of books and articles on geology and geography, especially as regards Iceland.[8] Initially he was a liberal evolutionist but his ideas on biology and politics changed greatly during his career and later in life he can be described as a very conservative anti-evolutionist.[4]
^Encyclopaedia Britannica: A New Survey of Universal Knowledge. Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1962. p. 155.
Referencesedit
Hintze, V. Thoroddsen, Thorvaldur entry in C. F. Bricka (ed.): Dansk biografisk lexikon: tillige omfattende Norge for Tidsrummet 1537–1814; Gyldendal, Copenhagen 1887–1905; vol. XVII (1903), pp 283-5. URL last accessed 2007-10-19.
Jökull Sævarsson (2004). Iceland on maps. Based on "Haraldur Sigurðsson: Ísland á landabréfum. Nokkrir drættir. Kortasafn Háskóla Íslands. Reykjavík 1982, p. 7-15. Slightly abbreviated, altered and translated into English." URL last accessed 2007-10-19.
Steindór J. Erlingsson (2001). "Hugmyndaheimur Þorvalds Thoroddsens 1872-1911, in Skírnir 175, pp. 354–388. URL last accessed 2007-10-19.
Dr. Þorvaldur Thoroddsen. Skólavefurinn 2006. URL last accessed 2007-10-19.
Portrait and short biography in Icelandic
External linksedit
Works by or about Þorvaldur Thoroddsen at Wikisource
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Þorvaldur, thoroddsen, june, 1855, september, 1921, icelandic, geologist, geographer, contents, biography, work, notes, references, external, linksbiography, editÞorvaldur, writer, jón, thoroddsen, graduated, from, learned, school, reykjavík, 1875, then, immed. THorvaldur Thoroddsen 6 June 1855 28 September 1921 was an Icelandic geologist and geographer 1 THorvaldur Thoroddsen Contents 1 Biography 2 Work 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksBiography editTHorvaldur was the son of the writer Jon Thoroddsen He graduated from the Learned School of Reykjavik in 1875 and then immediately proceeded to Copenhagen to further his studies He studied natural history and zoology but also nourished a strong interest in geology this was amplified in 1876 when he served as a guide for the geologist Johannes Frederik Johnstrup in an expedition to Iceland to study Askja and the volcanoes at Myvatn 2 Unable to complete his studies for financial reasons THorvaldur accepted a teaching placement at Modruvellir in the north of Iceland in 1880 and worked there until 1885 when he became an adjunct at the Learned School In 1887 he married THora daughter of bishop Petur Petursson 3 They had one child Sigridur 1888 1903 THora died in 1917 4 In 1899 THorvaldur resigned his position at the Learned School The Althing granted him a generous pension which enabled him to live in Copenhagen and work on research and writing 4 In 1894 he was granted an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Copenhagen and in 1902 he was named Professor 5 Work editDuring his expedition with Johnstrup THorvaldur was stricken by the nature of Iceland s large uninhabited areas He resolved to investigate the nature of the island especially its geology which up till then had been sparsely mapped and studied 6 From 1881 to 1898 he undertook expeditions to gather data During his work THorvaldur ran into the limitations of the 1848 map of Iceland by Bjorn Gunnlaugsson Bjorn had concentrated his precise measurements on the inhabited areas and a significant amount of work remained to be done in the central highlands In 1901 THorvaldur published a geological map of Iceland where he incorporated his corrections to Bjorn Gunnlaugsson s map 7 During the time he lived in Copenhagen THorvaldur wrote a number of books and articles on geology and geography especially as regards Iceland 8 Initially he was a liberal evolutionist but his ideas on biology and politics changed greatly during his career and later in life he can be described as a very conservative anti evolutionist 4 He was awarded the Charles P Daly Medal by the American Geographical Society in 1906 9 The standard author abbreviation Thoroddsen is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name 10 He died in Copenhagen aged 66 11 Notes edit Thoroddsen Prof Dr Thorvaldur Who s Who Vol 59 1907 p 1747 Hintze p 283 Hintze p 284 a b c Steindor J Erlingsson page 1 online edition Hintze p 285 DBL 285 Jokull Saevarsson Skolavefurinn American Geographical Society Honorary Fellowships PDF amergeog org Retrieved 2009 03 02 International Plant Names Index Thoroddsen Encyclopaedia Britannica A New Survey of Universal Knowledge Encyclopaedia Britannica 1962 p 155 References editHintze V Thoroddsen Thorvaldur entry in C F Bricka ed Dansk biografisk lexikon tillige omfattende Norge for Tidsrummet 1537 1814 Gyldendal Copenhagen 1887 1905 vol XVII 1903 pp 283 5 URL last accessed 2007 10 19 Jokull Saevarsson 2004 Iceland on maps Based on Haraldur Sigurdsson Island a landabrefum Nokkrir draettir Kortasafn Haskola Islands Reykjavik 1982 p 7 15 Slightly abbreviated altered and translated into English URL last accessed 2007 10 19 Steindor J Erlingsson 2001 Hugmyndaheimur THorvalds Thoroddsens 1872 1911 inSkirnir175 pp 354 388 URL last accessed 2007 10 19 Dr THorvaldur Thoroddsen Skolavefurinn 2006 URL last accessed 2007 10 19 Portrait and short biography in IcelandicExternal links edit nbsp Works by or about THorvaldur Thoroddsen at Wikisource nbsp nbsp This Icelandic biographical article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title THorvaldur Thoroddsen amp oldid 1191857067, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
