Lauritz Andreas Thodal

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Lauritz Andreas Thodal (c. 1718 – 29 May 1808) was a Norwegian civil servant who served as governor of Iceland from 1770 to 1785. He was considered one of the most capable officials sent to Iceland.

Thodal was born in Selnæs, Lurøy, the son of Anders Christensen, a citizen of Trondheim, and Else Larsdatter.

In 1751 he became secretary of a committee tasked with settling and marking the long border between Norway and Sweden. The border ran through vast, wild terrain, so the work took more than fourteen years. Thodal was the most active member and earned a strong reputation.

In 1756 he traveled to Stockholm and Saint Petersburg on behalf of the committee. He was given the title of chancellor and promised a prestigious, well-paid office when the committee’s work ended.