The history of Colombia is marked by a long succession of leaders who have guided the nation through times of change, conflict, and growth. Over the years, Colombia has seen democratically elected presidents, as well as appointed leaders and those who seized power through coups. From the days before its independence to the modern era, these leaders have significantly contributed to the construction of the Colombia we know today.
Early Leaders of the Patria Boba (1810-1816)
In the period preceding Colombia’s independence, known as the Patria Boba, there were several notable leaders:
- Jose Miguel Pey (Centralist): 1810-1811
- Jorge Tadeo Lozano (Federalist): 1811
- Antonio Nariño y Alvarez (without party): 1811-1813
- Jose Maria Arrubla (without party): 1812
- Manuel Benito de Castro y Arcaya (without party): 1812
- Luis de Ayala y Vergara (without party): 1812
- Felipe de Vergara (without party): 1812
- Camilo Torres y Tenorio (without party): 1812-1814
- Manuel de Bernardo Alvarez (without party): 1813-1814
- Juan Manuel Restrepo (without party): 1813-1814
- Jose Fernandez de Madrid (without party): 1814-1815
- Jose Joaquin Camacho Rodriguez (without party): 1814-1815
- Jose Maria Eusebio Carlos del Rosario del Castillo (without party): 1814-1815
- Jose Custodio Cayetano Garcia Rovira (without party): 1814-1815
- Crisanto Valenzuela (without party): 1815
- Antonio de Villavicencio y Verastegui (without party): 1815
- Manuel Rodríguez-Torices (without party): 1815
- Camilo Torres y Tenorio (without party): 1815-1816
- Liborio Mejia Gutierrez De Lara (without party): 1816
- Fernando Serrano Uribe (without party): 1816
These leaders represented various factions and perspectives at a crucial moment in Colombia’s history when independence from Spain was sought.
Presidents after Independence (1819-1886)
Once independence was achieved in 1819, Colombia had a series of presidents:
- Simon Bolivar: 1819, 1826-1830
- Francisco de Paula Santander: 1819-1827
- Estanislao Vergara Sanz: 1828-1830
- Domingo de Caicedo y Sanz de Santamaria: 1830
- Joaquin Mariano Mosquera: 1830
- Rafael Urdaneta: 1830-1831
- Juan Garcia del Rio: 1831
- Domingo de Caicedo y Sanz de Santamaria: 1831
- Jose Maria Ramon Obando Del Campo: 1831-1832
- Francisco de Paula Santander: 1832-1837
- Jose Ignacio de Marquez Barreto: 1837-1841
- Juan de Dios Aranzazu: 1841-1842
- Pedro Alcantara Herran: 1841-1845
- Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera: 1845-1849
- Rufino Cuervo: 1847
- Jose Hilario Lopez: 1849-1853
- Jose Maria Ramon Obando Del Campo: 1853-1854
- Jose Maria Melo: 1854
- Francisco Antonio Obregon Muñoz: 1854
- Tomas Jose Ramon del Carmen Herrera: 1854
- Jose de Obaldia: 1854-1855
- Manuel Maria Mallarino: 1855-1857
- Mariano Ospina Rodriguez: 1857-1861
- Juan Jose Nieto Gil: 1861
- Bartolome Calvo Diaz de la Madrid: 1861
- Ignacio Gutierrez Vergara: 1861-1862
- Leonardo Canal Gonzalez: 1862
- Manuel del Rio y De Narvaez: 1862-1863
- Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera y Arboleda: 1861-1863
- Froilán Largacha Hurtado: 1863
- Jose Hilario Lopez: 1863
- Eustorgio Salgar Moreno: 1863
- Jose Santos Gutierrez Prieto: 1863
- Juan Agustin de Uricoechea Zornoza y Rocha: 1864
- Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera y Arboleda: 1864
- Manuel Murillo Toro: 1864-1866
- Jose Maria Rojas Garrido: 1866
- Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera y Arboleda: 1866-1967
- Joaquin Riascos Garcia: 1867
- Manuel Maria de los Santos Acosta: 1867-1868
- Jose Santos Gutierrez Prieto: 1868- 1870
- Salvador Camacho Roldan: 1868-1869, 1871
- Eustorgio Salgar Moreno: 1870-1872
- Manuel Murillo Toro: 1872-1874
- Santiago Perez Manosalbas: 1874-1876
- Jose Bonifacio Aquileo Elias Parra Gomez: 1876-1878
- Sergio Camargo Pinzon: 1877.
- Julian Trujillo Largacha: 1878-1880
- Manuel María Ramirez Fortoul: 1877
- Rafael Wenceslao Nuñez Moledo: 1880-1882
- Francisco Javier Martinez de Zaldua de Racines: 1882
- Clímaco Calderon Reyes: 1882
- Jose Eusebio Otálora Martínez: 1882-1884
- Ezequiel Hurtado Hurtado: 1884
- Rafael Wenceslao Nuñez Moledo: 1884-1886
This period was marked by a series of conflicts and political changes in the new independent republic.
Presidents of the Republic of Colombia (1886 – Present)
With the creation of the Republic of Colombia in 1886, a presidential system was established. Some of the most prominent presidents during this era include:
- Jose Maria Campo Serrano (National Party): 1886-1887
- Eliseo Payan Hurtado (Liberal): 1887
- Rafael Wenceslao Nuñez Moledo (National Party): 1887-1888
- Carlos Holguin Mallarino (National Party): 1888-1892
- Rafael Wenceslao Nuñez Moledo (National Party): 1892-1894
- Carlos Holguin Mallarino (National Party): 1888-1992
- Miguel Antonio Caro Tobar (National Party): 1892-1898
- Antonio Basileo Cuervo Urusarri: 1893
- Guillermo Quintero Calderon: 1896
- Manuel Antonio Sanclemente Sanclemente (National Party): 1898-1900.
- Jose Manuel Marroquín Ricaurte (Conservative): 1900-1904.
- Rafael Reyes Prieto (Conservative): 1904-1909
- Diego Euclides de Angulo Lemos (Conservative): 1908
- Jorge Marcelo Holguin Mallarino (Conservative): 1909
- Ramon Gonzalez Valencia (Conservative): 1909-1910
- Carlos Eugenio Restrepo Restrepo: 1910-1914
- Jose Vicente Concha Ferreira (Conservative): 1914-1918.
- Marco Fidel Suarez (Conservative): 1918-1921
- Jorge Marcelo Holguin Mallarino (Conservative): 1921-1922
- Pedro Nel Ospina Vasquez (Conservative): 1922-1926
- Miguel Abadia Mendez (Conservative): 1926-1930
- Enrique Alfredo Olaya Herrera (Liberal): 1930-1934
- Alfonso Lopez Pumarejo (Liberal): 1934-1938
- Eduardo Santos Montejo (Liberal): 1938-1942.
- Alfonso Lopez Pumarejo (Liberal): 1942-1945
- Carlos Lozano y Lozano (Liberal): 1942
- Darío Echandia Olaya (Liberal): 1943-1944
- Alberto Lleras Camargo (Liberal): 1945-1946
- Luis Mariano Ospina Perez (Conservative): 1946-1950
- Laureano Jose Gomez Castro (Conservative): 1950-1951, 1953
- Roberto Urdaneta Arbelaez (Conservative): 1951-1953
- Gustavo Rojas Pinilla (Military): 1953-1957
- Gabriel Paris Gordillo (Military): 1957-1958
- Deogracias Fonseca Espinosa (Military): 1957-1958.
- Luis Ernesto Ordoñez Castillo (Military): 1957-1958
- Rafael Navas Pardo (Military): 1957-1958
- Ruben Piedrahita Arango (Military): 1957-1958
- Alberto Lleras Camargo (Liberal): 1958-1962
- Guillermo Leon Valencia Muñoz (Conservative): 1962-1966
- Jose Antonio Montaño Berbeo (Conservative): 1963
- Carlos Alberto Lleras Restrepo (Liberal): 1966-1970
- Misael Eduardo Pastrana Borrero (Conservative): 1970-1974.
- Rafael Azuero Manchola (Conservative): 1973
- Alfonso Antonio Lazaro Lopez Michelsen (Liberal): 1974-1978.
- Indalecio Lievano Aguirre (Liberal): 1975
- Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala (Liberal): 1975, 1978-1982
- Victor Manuel Mosquera Chaux: 1981
- Belisario Antonio Betancur Cuartas (Conservative): 1982-1986
- Virgilio Barco Vargas (Liberal): 1986-1990
- Cesar Augusto Gaviria Trujillo (Liberal): 1990-1994
- Ernesto Samper Pizano (Liberal): 1994-1998
- Carlos Lemos Simmonds (Liberal): 1998
- Andres Pastrana Arango (Conservative): 1998-2022
- Alvaro Uribe Velez (Primero Colombia): 2002-2010
- Juan Manuel Santos Calderon (Partido de la U): 2010-2018
- Ivan Duque Marquez (Centro Democratico): 2018 – 2022
- Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego (Colombia Humana): 2022 – Present
During this period, Colombia experienced significant moments, such as the civil war known as “La Violencia” and the subsequent struggle against guerrilla groups and drug trafficking. Additionally, the country went through periods of reform and modernization.
A Glimpse into Colombia’s History Through Its Presidents
The history of Colombia is intricately intertwined with the political and social evolution that has taken place over the years. Each president has left their mark on the nation, facing unique challenges and opportunities.
From the days before independence, with leaders representing various factions, to modern Colombia with presidents committed to addressing complex issues like armed conflict and drug trafficking, each presidential period has been a chapter in the country’s history.
With leaders like Simon Bolivar, Rafael Nuñez Moledo and Alfonso Lopez Pumarejo, Colombia has undergone significant transformations. Each president has faced unique challenges but has also contributed to the construction of the nation that exists today, a vibrant and diverse Colombia with a promising future.
See all the latest news from Colombia and the world at ColombiaOne.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow Colombia One on Google News, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and subscribe here to our newsletter.