Þorvaldur Thoroddsen

[2] 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.

The Althing granted him a generous pension which enabled him to live in Copenhagen and work on research and writing.

Björn had concentrated his precise measurements on the inhabited areas and a significant amount of work remained to be done in the central highlands.

[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.