Kristjan Niels Julius
Encyclopedia
Kristjan Niels "K. N." Julius (April 4, 1860–October 25, 1936) was a satirical
poet
from Iceland
, who later lived in the U.S. State
of North Dakota
. He was born April April 7, 1860, and emigrated to North America
in 1878. He originally lived in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, and later moved to the United States
where he lived in Duluth, Minnesota
. Around 1894, he moved to North Dakota
and took up residence in Thingvalla Township
, which had several large Icelandic settlements. His poems were well-known in Iceland
and in the United States
.
In 1999 President
Ólafur Grímsson
of Iceland
visited Thingwalla Township to rededicate a monument to Julius at Thingvalla Church, where Julius is buried. The church was completely destroyed by a fire in 2003, but the Julius monument and the cemetery survived.
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
from Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, who later lived in the U.S. State
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. He was born April April 7, 1860, and emigrated to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in 1878. He originally lived in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, and later moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he lived in Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
. Around 1894, he moved to North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
and took up residence in Thingvalla Township
Thingvalla Township, Pembina County, North Dakota
Thingvalla Township is a township in Pembina County, North Dakota, United States. The 2000 Census reported a population of 121, and an estimated population of 103 as of 2009. President Ólafur Grímsson of Iceland visited area in 1999 to dedicate a monument to poet K. N...
, which had several large Icelandic settlements. His poems were well-known in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1999 President
President of Iceland
The President of Iceland is Iceland's elected head of state. The president is elected to a four-year term by universal adult suffrage and has limited powers. The president is not the head of government; the Prime Minister of Iceland is the head of government. There have been five presidents since...
Ólafur Grímsson
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson is the fifth and current President of Iceland. He has served as President since 1996; he was unopposed in 2000, re-elected for a third term in 2004, and re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in 2008. He is the longest-serving left-wing president in the history of...
of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
visited Thingwalla Township to rededicate a monument to Julius at Thingvalla Church, where Julius is buried. The church was completely destroyed by a fire in 2003, but the Julius monument and the cemetery survived.