Peter Ben #88802

Pétur Ben. Biography. Recorded by Jakob F. Ásgeirsson.
Pétur Benediktsson left a great impression on Icelandic society in his time. He was the son of the member of parliament Benedikt Sveinsson and his brothers made a great impact. Sveinn in the fishing industry and Bjarni in the political campaign. Countless stories were spun about Pétur, as he was a popular figure and his sense of humor was well-known.
After graduating, Pétur became a pioneer in the foreign service of the young republic. He was in each place at a critical time - he was in Madrid, Spain, during the civil war, in London when the Germans were bombing the city, in Moscow in the midst of the Stalin era. He traveled through the war-torn countries of Central and Eastern Europe after the Second World War, making trade agreements, and in Paris he participated in the implementation of the Marshall Plan. After returning home, Pétur became the director of Landsbanki and later a member of parliament for the Independence Party. He died in 1969. (Cover text).