| Juan José Flores | |
|---|---|
| 4th President of Ecuador | |
| In office April 1, 1843 – March 6, 1845 |
|
| Vice President | Francisco Marcos (1843–1845) |
| Preceded by | Interim Presidency |
| Succeeded by | José Joaquín de Olmedo |
| Interim President of Ecuador | |
| In office January 15, 1843 – April 1, 1843 |
|
| 3rd President of Ecuador | |
| In office February 1, 1839 – January 15, 1843 |
|
| Vice President | Francisco Javier Aguirre (1839–1843) |
| Preceded by | Vicente Rocafuerte |
| Succeeded by | Interim Presidency |
| 1st President of Ecuador | |
| In office September 22, 1830 – September 10, 1834 |
|
| Vice President | José Joaquín Olmedo (1830–1831) Modesto Larrea y Carrión (1831–1834) |
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Vicente Rocafuerte |
| Provisional President of Ecuador | |
| In office August 14, 1830 – September 11, 1830 |
|
| Supreme Chief of Ecuador | |
| In office May 13, 1830 – August 14, 1845 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 19, 1800 Puerto Cabello, Venezuela |
| Died | October 1, 1864 (aged 64) Puná Island, Ecuador Under house arrest abroad his ship |
| Nationality | Venezuelan |
| Spouse(s) | Mercedes Jijón de Vivanco y Chiriboga |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Juan José Flores y Aramburu (July 19, 1800 – October 1, 1864) was a Venezuelan military general who became Supreme Chief, and later the first President of the new Republic of Ecuador. He later served two more terms from 1839 to 1843 and from 1843 to 1845, and is often referred to as "The founder of the Republic".
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Flores
On May 13, 1830, the day of Ecuador's breaking away from Gran Colombia, he was named supreme chief of the new country, and then on August 14, 1830, he was named provisional president. His official term, however, did not start until September 22, 1830, 11 days after he was elected constitutional president by the assembly in Riobamba. That term lasted until September 10, 1834, and was marked with much turmoil. Flores faced a rebellion led by Luis Urdaneta, a loyalist of Simón Bolívar, who wanted to prevent Ecuador from leaving Gran Colombia. Flores also faced a threat from a member of the Ecuadorian congress, Vicente Rocafuerte, who attempted to overthrow him. Eventually, the two made an agreement – Rocafuerte would become president after Flores, and Flores would become leader of the military. Also during his term, he fought an invading Colombian army in 1832 and again starting in 1834, finally defeating them on January 18, 1835 in Miñarica, near Ambato.
Flores' second term began on February 1, 1839, and ended January 15, 1843. The beginning of his term was marked by peace and social development—he kept his word to rule justly and to defend freedom. However, in the last year of his term, he intervened militarily in the politics of Nueva Granada at the request of the Colombian government, fighting his old enemy, José María Obando. When later forced to intervene again, he was attacked by the Colombian army and his popularity at home fell. Then, after irregularities in the elections of 1842, he pushed to have the 1835 constitution annulled, and the new constitution, nicknamed the "Carta de la esclavitud" ("letter of slavery") allowed him to continue in power for a third term, which began April 1, 1843. During this term, Flores fought to remain in power, but was ultimately overthrown on March 6, 1845 by a rebellion led by Rocafuerte and Vicente Ramón Roca, the man who became the next president of Ecuador.
Flores died of uremia in 1864 while in house arrest under the presidency of Gabriel García Moreno.
| Preceded by Position created |
President of Ecuador 1830–1834 |
Succeeded by Vicente Rocafuerte |
| Preceded by Vicente Rocafuerte |
President of Ecuador 1839–1845 |
Succeeded by José Joaquín de Olmedo |