Agnes Magnúsdóttir

Agnes Magnúsdóttir (27 October 1795 – 12 January 1830) was the last person to be executed in Iceland, along with Friðrik Sigurðsson. The pair were sentenced to death for the murder of Nathan Ketilsson, a farmer in Illugastaðir in Vatnsnes, and Pétur Jónsson from Geitaskarð on 14 March 1828. They were executed by beheading in Vatnsdalshólar in Austur-Húnavatnssýsla on 12 January 1830.

Agnes had been described as an intelligent, imaginative and talented woman. Her appearance is disputed, but one source says she is "not visible", while another describes her as more complete and fun in her approach. Agnes was in her thirties and worked as a maid at Geitaskarð when she met Nathan Ketilsson. At the same time they were attracted to each other and Agnes was hired at Illugastaðir for the next few days.[1] Agnes no doubt hoped to become Nathan's housekeeper and wife, but when he got there it turned out not to be. Nathan had chosen Sigríður Guðmundsdóttir as housekeeper, but she was only 16 years old.[2] Friðrik Sigurðsson liked Sigríður, and Agnes probably hoped that she would choose Friðrik and Nathan would then choose her. That did not happen, however.[1]