Minister for Iceland
Minister for Iceland was a post in the Danish cabinet for Icelandic affairs.History
The post was established on 5 January 1874 as according to the Constitution of Iceland the executive power rested in the King of Denmark through the Danish cabinet. The post as Minister for Iceland was a part of the post as Justice Minister of Denmark until 1904 as the Constitutional Act of Iceland of 3 October 1903 stated that the Minister for Iceland had to be a resident of Reykjavík and be able to read and write Icelandic, and the minister was made responsible to the Icelandic parliament and Iceland obtained extended home rule.
After agreement with the Social Liberal government in Copenhagen Jón Magnússon in January 1917 formed the first coalition government consisting of three ministers and with a majority in the Althing behind it. Parliamentarism was thus implemented in Iceland. Jón Magnússon got the title forsætisráðherra Íslands, while all three ministers were also formally members of the Danish cabinet each with the title Minister of Iceland.
In 1918, Denmark recognised Iceland as an independent and sovereign state in a personal union with Denmark—the Kingdom of Iceland—and the post was closed down on 30 November 1918.Constitution (1874–1904)
