List of Presidents of Colombia

The following List of Presidents of Colombia is a list in chronological order of the persons who have occupied the Office of the President of Colombia or similar office during its history since achieving Independence in 1810. Because of historical events and constitutional restrictions, the Chief Executive Officers of Colombia have not always been called Presidents, but have held the office under various titles.

Contents

Foolish Fatherland (During the Reign of Fernando VII)

The Foolish Fatherland is a historical period where the colonies of the Viceroyalty of the New Granada first experimented with self-rule. After the incarceration of Emperor Ferdinand VII of Spain by Napoleon Bonaparte, several cities across the empire cut ties with the shadow government of Napoleon's brother, Joseph I, who had crowned himself King of Spain. As the news of this unrest reached the New World various cities declared independence from Spain. In the New Granada, given the fraction of its territory, various provinces declared themselves independent and set up their own governments headed by Criollos. The office of President was then first implemented in the country by regional leaders.

Regional Presidents

State of Cundinamarca (1810—1814) (During the Reign of Fernando VII)

On January 29, 1810 the Supreme Central and Governing Junta of the Kingdom in Cádiz dissolved under the pressure of French troops during the Siege of Cádiz, thus ending the last bastillion of the Spanish Resistance in mainland Spain. When news of this event reached the New World local political leaders sought to take advantage of the situation and set up juntas headed by Criollos. In Bogotá, the capital of the Viceroyalty of the New Granada news of this event reached on July 20, 1810 and the events that followed led to the formation of the Open Cabildo of Bogotá. At first the Cabildo sought to gain legitimacy by including the Viceroy in their leadership, but he refused to do so and was replaced by the Vice President of the Cabildo, the Mayor of Bogotá, José Miguel Pey de Andrade making him the first Criollo to hold executive and legislative power over the territory that is now Colombia. As independence spread over the empire, the Cabildo was replaced by the Government of the Free and Independent State of Cundinamarca, with Bogotá as its capital and Jorge Tadeo Lozano as its President, or as his title indicated "President of Cundinamarca and Vicegerent of the King's Person." The independent Republic of Cundinamarca lasted until 1812, when this one was incorporated into the United Provinces of the New Granada.

• Open Cabildo of Bogotá •
Picture Name Took office Left office Form of Ascension Reason for stepping down
Antonio José
Amar y Borbón		 did not take office President-elect of Cabildo, but refuses to accept office. Permanently replaced.
José Miguel
Pey de Andrade		 July 20, 1810 April 1, 1811 Vice President acting as President in his absence. Eventually elected nominal President. Office subjugated to that of Cundinamarca.
• Independent State of Cundinamarca •
Picture Name Took office Left office Form of Ascension Reason for stepping down
Jorge
Tadeo Lozano		 April 1, 1811 September 19, 1811 Elected by Congress. Resigned from office.
Antonio
Nariño y Álvarez		 June 25, 1812 September 21, 1813 Elected by Congress. Left office to fight insurgency.
Luis
de Ayala y Vergara		 June 25, 1812 August 5, 1812 Presiding Member of Provisional Government Junta. President resumes power.
Antonio
Nariño y Álvarez		 August 5, 1812 August 19, 1812 Resumes power. Left office to fight insurgency.
Manuel Benito
de Castro y Arcaya		 August 19, 1812 September 12, 1812 Interim caretaker. President resumes power.
Antonio
Nariño y Álvarez		 September 12, 1812 November 26, 1812 Resumes power. Left office to fight insurgency.
Felipe
de Vergara y Caycedo		 November 26, 1812 December 15, 1812 Presiding member of Provisional Government Junta. President resumes power.
Antonio
Nariño y Álvarez		 December 15, 1812 September 21, 1813 Resumes power. Left office to fight insurgency.
Manuel de Bernardo
Álvarez del Casal		 September 21, 1813 December 12, 1814 Interim caretaker. Deposed. Office subjugated to that of the United Provinces of New Granada..

State of Cartagena de Indias (1810—1812) (During the Reign of Fernando VII)

Main article: List of Governors of the Province of Cartagena#Peninsular War, Revolution and Independence (1810-1820)

When news of the declaration of independence of the Cabildo of Bogotá reached the port city of Cartagena de Indias, local leaders moved to form their own Supreme Junta on August 13, 1810, and subsequently on November 11, 1811 declared absolute independence from Spain and from the Viceroyalty of New Granada becoming its own nation, initially under the leadership of José Ignacio de Cavero y Cárdenas as President of the Junta, and afterwards under a Governor President until the incorporation of Cartagena into the United Provinces of New Granada.

• Supreme Junta of Cartagena de Indias •
Picture Name Took office Left office Form of Ascension Reason for stepping down
José Ignacio
Cavero y Cárdenas		 November 11, 1811 January 21, 1812 President of the Supreme Junta of Government Office subjugated to the new State.
José María
del Real e Hidalgo		 January 21, 1812 April 1, 1812 Elected Governor President of the State. Office replaced.
Manuel
Rodríguez Torices		 April 26, 1815 November 15, 1815 Elected President-Dictator by Convention of Cartagena. Office subjugated to that of the United Provinces of New Granada.

Republic of Antioquia (1810—1815) (During the Reign of Fernando VII)

• Republic of Antioquia •
Picture Name Took office Left office Form of Ascension Reason for stepping down

Republic of Tunja (1812) (During the Reign of Fernando VII)

The Province of Tunja had originally refuted the actions of Bogotá in declaring independence from Spain, but as cities within its own province started to clamour for independence by joining Cundinamarca who had already attained theirs, Tunja was forced to act quickly. On November 26, 1811 Tunja signed the Act of Confederation joining the United Provinces of New Granada, and on December 9, 1811 declared its formal independence from Spain. The tensions between Cundinamarca and the United Provinces however forced Tunja to enter into a treaty with Cundinamarca; the Santa Rosa Pact separated Tunja from the Federalist government of the United Provinces and put it in track to eventually join the Centralist government of Cundinamarca. The Republic of Tunja was now standing in its own two feet under the administration of President-Governor Juan Nepomuceno Niño, this lasted until Cundinamarca was finally defeated and Tunja rejoined the United Provinces.

• Republic of Tunja •
Picture Name Took office Left office Form of Ascension Reason for stepping down
Juan Nepomuceno
Niño y Muelle		 July 3, 1812 October 4, 1812 Elected President-Governor of Tunja by its Junta. Office subjugated to that of the United Provinces of New Granada.

United Provinces of New Granada (1812—1816) (During the Reign of Fernando VII)

Main article: United Provinces of New Granada

The United Provinces of New Granada was formed on November 26, 1811 as a Confederation of the independent provinces of Tunja, Pamplona, Antioquia, Cartagena and Neiva. The office of the President was at first non-existent, the provinces did not want to entrust power to one person in order to avoid favoritism. During its first formal assembly, the Federal Congress elected as its first President Camilo Torres Tenorio and entrusted him with executive power while a Triumvirate was set up. The Triumvirate, was an experimental form of executive power in which three individuals would parallel and equally share executive power, giving more representation to various provinces at once; the system however, was flawed and ultimately proved difficult to maintain in light of the invasion by Pablo Morillo and its leaders were persecuted, forced to pass along power in a relay race for time and survival until all of its leaders were finally killed, or captured.

• United Provinces of New Granada •
Picture Name Took office Left office Form of Ascension Reason for stepping down
Camilo
Torres Tenorio		 October 4, 1812 October 5, 1814 President of the Congress, entrusted with the Federal Executive Power. Replaced by Triumvirate.
José María
del Castillo Rada		 October 5, 1814 November 28, 1814 Interim Triumvir. Term ends.
Joaquín
Camacho Lago		 October 5, 1814 January 25, 1815 Interim Triumvir. Term ends.
José
Fernández Madrid		 October 5, 1814 April 26, 1815 Interim Triumvir. Term ends.
Custodio
García Rovira		 November 28, 1814 July 24, 1815 Nominal Triumvir. Term ends.
José Miguel
Pey de Andrade		 January 25, 1815 November 15, 1815 Alternate Triumvir, replaced Restrepo. Term ends.
Crisanto
Valenzuela y Conde		 July 25, 1815 August 17, 1815 Interim Provisional Triumvir. Alternate Triumvir takes office.
Manuel
Rodríguez Torices		 April 26, 1815 November 15, 1815 Nominal Triumvir. Steps down from office to answer conspiracy charges, is exonerated of charges two days later on October 18.
Antonio
Villavicencio y Verástegui		 August 17, 1815 November 15, 1815 Alternate Triumvir, replaced García. Term ends.
José Manuel
Restrepo Vélez		 did not take office Triumvir-elect Declined office.
Camilo
Torres Tenorio		 November 15, 1815 March 14, 1816 Elected by Congress. Resigned office.
José
Fernández Madrid		 March 14, 1816 June 22, 1816 Appointed by Congress. Escaped the capital and resigned due to Spanish persecution.
Liborio
Mejía Gutiérrez		 June 22, 1816 June 30, 1816 Vice President appointed by Congress acting as President in his absence. President takes office.
Custodio
García Rovira		 June 30, 1816 July 10, 1816 Appointed President-Dictator by Congress. Captured by the Spanish Army.
Fernando
Serrano Uribe		 July 16, 1816 September 16, 1816 Elected by an assembly of army units. Captured by the Spanish Army.

Reign of Terror (1816—1819)

Main article: List of Viceroys of New Granada

The culmination of the Spanish reconquest of New Granada was the reinstitution of the Vice-royalty and the return of Spanish rule. The office of President was abolished in the colony and those fighting for independence were either captured, killed, forced underground or forced into exile; this period is known as the Reign of Terror, a period when the Spanish colonial rulers sought to set an example of all of those who have defied the crown by setting show trials and sentencing many of the Precursors of independence to death in public displays.

• Spanish Reconquista of New Granada •

Republic of Colombia (1819—1831)

• 1st Republic of Colombia •
Picture Name Took office Left office Form of Ascension Reason for stepping down
Simón
Bolívar Palacios		 February 15, 1819 December 13, 1821 Elected by the Congress of Angostura in 1819. Re-elected by the Congress of Cúcuta 1821. Leaves to fight in the Southern Campaign.
Francisco de Paula
Santander y Omaña		 December 13, 1821 November 14, 1826 Vice President, in charge of the executive power. President returns.
Simón
Bolívar Palacios		 November 14, 1826 November 10, 1829 Returns to finish term. Declares himself President-Dictator. Leaves to fight.
Estanislao
Vergara y Santamaría		 November 10, 1829 December 10, 1829 Presiding Member of the Council of State, in charge of the executive. President returns.
Simón
Bolívar Palacios		 December 10, 1829 May 4, 1830 Returns to power. Declares himself President-Dictator. Resigns office.
Domingo
de Caycedo y Sanz		 May 4, 1830 June 13, 1830 Vice President, in charge of the executive. Finished term.
Joaquín
Mosquera y Arboleda		 June 13, 1830 September 4, 1830 Elected by Congress Ousted by Military Coup.
Rafael
Urdaneta y Faría		 September 4, 1830 April 30, 1831 Provisional Chief of Government, took power by coup. Ousted later by the legitimate government.


José Miguel
Pey de Andrade




Jerónimo
de Mendoza Galavís




Juan
García Del Río		 April 30, 1831 May 2, 1831 Plural Executive made up by the Council of Ministers set up to accept resignation of General Urdaneta and invite General Caycedo to take office.
Pey, Secretary of War and Navy;
Mendoza, Secretary of Finance;
García, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Interior.		 Finished term.
Domingo
de Caycedo y Sanz		 May 2, 1831 November 23, 1831 Vice President, in charge of the Executive. Resigns office.

Republic of New Granada (1831—1861)

• Republic of New Granada •
Picture Name Took office Left office Form of Ascension Reason for stepping down
José María
Obando del Campo		 November 23, 1831 March 10, 1832 Vice President in charge of the Provisional Government. Sanctioned the Constitution of 1832 that created the Republic of New Granada. End of term.
José Ignacio
de Márquez Barreto		 March 10, 1832 October 7, 1832 Vice President by Indirect Election., Acting President. Hands back power.
Francisco de Paula
Santander y Omaña		 October 7, 1832 April 1, 1837 Elected by Congress. Re-elected to second term by Congress. End of term.
José Ignacio
de Márquez Barreto		 April 1, 1837 April 1, 1841 Elected by Congress after indirect elections failed to give the required majority. End of term.
Pedro Alcántara
Herrán Martínez		 April 1, 1841 July 5, 1841 Elected by Congress after indirect elections failed to give the required majority. Leaves to fight in War of the Supremes.
Juan de Dios
Aranzazu González		 July 5, 1841 May 19, 1842 President of the Council of State, in charge of the executive. President returns.
Pedro Alcántara
Herrán Martínez		 May 19, 1842 April 1, 1845 Returns to office after war. End of term.
Tomás Cipriano
de Mosquera y Arboleda		 April 1, 1845 August 14, 1847 Elected by Congress after indirect elections failed to give the required majority. End of term.
Rufino
Cuervo y Barreto		 August 14, 1847 December 14, 1847 Vice President, in charge of the executive power. President returns to power
Tomás Cipriano
de Mosquera y Arboleda		 December 14, 1847 April 1, 1849 Returns to power. End of term.
José Hilario
López Valdéz		 April 1, 1849 April 1, 1853 Elected by Congress after indirect elections failed to give the required majority. End of term.
José María
Obando del Campo		 April 1, 1853 April 17, 1854 Indirect elections. Ousted by Military Coup.
José María
Melo y Ortiz		 April 17, 1854 December 4, 1854 Supreme Head of the Provisional Government, took power in a military coup. Ousted by legitimate government.
Tomás
Herrera y Pérez		 April 21, 1854 August 5, 1854 Claimed the Presidency as 1st Designate. Acting in rebellion against the usurper Government of General Melo.
Francisco Antonio
Obregón Muñoz		 May 20, 1854 June 2, 1854 Secretary of Government, in charge of the executive power. President returned to power.
José María
Melo y Ortiz		 June 2, 1854 December 4, 1854 Supreme Head of the Provisional Government, took power in a military coup. Ousted by legitimate government.
José
de Obaldía y Orejuela		 August 5, 1854 April 1, 1855 Vice President succeeding to the Presidency acting in rebellion against the usurper Government of General Melo. Hands power to Vice President.
Manuel María
Mallarino Ibargüen		 April 1, 1855 April 1, 1857 Vice President, acting chief executive. End of term.
Mariano
Ospina Rodríguez		 April 1, 1857 May 22, 1858 Direct Elections. Term continues to next constitutional phase.

Granadine Confederation (1858—1863)

      Liberal Party       Conservative Party

• Granadine Confederation •
Picture Name Took office Left office Form of Ascension Reason for stepping down
Mariano
Ospina Rodríguez		 May 22, 1858 April 1, 1861 End of term.
Juan José
Nieto Gil		 January 25, 1861 July 18, 1861 2nd Designate, acting in rebellion. Ceded power to Mosquera.
Bartolomé
Calvo Díaz		 April 1, 1861 July 10, 1861 Inspector General, succeeds to office while Congress was closed down and the President-elect could not take the oath of office. Arrested and deposed.
Julio
Arboleda Pombo		 July 10, 1861 July 18, 1861 President-elect in 1861 direct elections, but could not take the oath of office, eventually succeeded to the Presidency only after being named Inspector General in replacement of Calvo. Deposed by Military Coup.
Ignacio
Gutiérrez Vergara		 July 18, 1861 January 18, 1862 Secretary of Finance, succeeded to the presidency after Calvo and Arboleda were taken prisoners. Arrested and deposed.
Leonardo
Canal González		 July 18, 1861 November 6, 1862 Secretary of Government and War, led the constitutional government in exile. Ceded power.
Andrés
Cerón Serrano		 February 1862 February 1862 Secretary of War and Navy; during the chaotic period of occupation was in charge of executive power at times. Usurper government stabilized and ceded power to Mosquera.
Manuel
del Río y de Narváez		 November 6, 1862 January 13, 1863 Minister of the Interior, in charge of the executive. The Constitution prevented a General from taking executive power, General Canal ceded power to his eldest Secretary of State in order to maintain constitutional succession. Government in exile reached a peace agreement and ceded power.
Tomás Cipriano
de Mosquera y Arboleda		 July 18, 1861 February 4, 1863 Military coup. Called for a Constituent Assembly to enact a new constitution and ceded executive power to it.

United States of Colombia (1863—1886)

• United States of Colombia •
Picture Name Took office Left office Form of Ascension Reason for stepping down
Francisco Javier
Zaldúa y Racines		 February 4, 1863 February 10, 1863 President of the Rionegro Convention, entrusted with the executive. Cedes power.




Froilán
Largacha Hurtado


Tomás Cipriano
de Mosquera y Arboleda


José Hilario
López Valdéz


Eustorgio
Salgar Moreno



Santos
Gutiérrez Prieto		 February 10, 1863 May 14, 1863 Plural Executive headed by the Council of Ministers:
Largacha, Minister of the Treasury;
Mosquera, Minister of War;
López, Minister of Foreign Affairs;
Salgar, Minister of Finance
Gutiérrez, Minister of the Interior.		 Replaced by President.
Tomás Cipriano
de Mosquera y Arboleda		 May 14, 1863 January 29, 1864 Elected by the Rionegro Convention. Left to fight in Ecuadorian–Colombian War.
Juan Agustín
de Uricoechea Zarnoza y Rocha		 January 29, 1864 February 28, 1864 Inspector General, in charge of the executive. President returned to power.
Tomás Cipriano
de Mosquera y Arboleda		 February 28, 1864 April 8, 1864 Elected by the Rionegro Convention. End of term.
Manuel
Murillo Toro		 April 8, 1864 April 1, 1866 Indirect elections.
José María
Rojas Garrido		 April 1, 1866 May 22, 1866 1st Designate in the absence of the elected President. President takes office.
Tomás Cipriano
de Mosquera y Arboleda		 May 22, 1866 May 23, 1867 Indirect elections. Deposed by Military Coup.
Joaquín
Riascos García		 May 12, 1867 June 28, 1867 3rd Designate, claims executive power after Mosquera closes Congress. Cedes power to Acosta.
Santos
Acosta Castillo		 May 23, 1867 April 1, 1868 2nd Designate, claims executive power after Mosquera closes Congress and moved to depose him in a coup. Cedes power.
Santos
Gutiérrez Prieto		 April 1, 1868 December 21, 1868 Indirect elections. Because of his marriage he took a temporary leave of absence from office.
Salvador
Camacho Roldán		 December 21, 1868 January 2, 1869 1st Designate, in charge of the executive power.
Santos
Gutiérrez Prieto		 January 2, 1869 April 1, 1870 Returns to power. End of term.
Eustorgio
Salgar Moreno		 April 1, 1870 April 1, 1872 Indirect elections. End of term.
Manuel
Murillo Toro		 April 1, 1872 April 1, 1874 Indirect elections. End of term.
Santiago
Pérez de Manosalbas		 April 1, 1874 April 1, 1876 Indirect elections. End of term.
Aquileo
Parra Gómez		 April 1, 1876 May 19, 1877 Indirect elections. Temporarily steps down due to illness.
José Sergio
Camargo Pinzón		 May 19, 1877 August 14, 1877 2nd Designate, in charge of the executive power. President returns to power.
Aquileo
Parra Gómez		 August 14, 1877 December 22, 1877 Returned to power. Instability in the country threatens to overthrow him from office due to his illness and is asked to temporarily step down.
Manuel María
Ramírez Fortoul		 December 22, 1877 December 24, 1877 Inspector General, in charge of the executive power. President returns to power.
Aquileo
Parra Gómez		 December 24, 1877 April 1, 1878 Returned to power. End of term.
Julián
Trujillo Largacha		 April 1, 1878 April 8, 1880 Indirect elections. End of term.
Rafael
Núñez Moledo		 April 8, 1880 April 1, 1882 Indirect elections. End of term.
Francisco Javier
Zaldúa y Racines		 April 1, 1882 December 21, 1882 Indirect elections. Dies in office.
Clímaco
Calderón Reyes		 December 21, 1882 December 22, 1882 Inspector General, succeeds to Presidency in absence of the Designates. Cedes power.
José Eusebio
Otálora Martínez		 December 22, 1882 April 1, 1884 2nd Presidential Designate, takes office after death of Zaldúa and after the 1st Designate, Núñez, declined the office. End of term.
Ezequiel
Hurtado Hurtado		 April 1, 1884 August 11, 1884 1st Designate in charge of the executive in absence of the newly elected President. President takes office.
Rafael
Núñez Moledo		 August 11, 1884 April 1, 1886 Indirect elections. Resigned office.
José María
Campo Serrano		 April 1, 1886 August 4, 1886 1st Designate, succeeds to Presidency. Term carried over to next constitutional phase.

Republic of Colombia (1886—present)

      Liberal Party       Conservative Party       Colombia First/Social Party of National Unity

      Military Rule       Republican Union Party

• Republic of Colombia •
Picture Name Took office Left office Form of Ascension Reason for stepping down
José María
Campo Serrano		 August 4, 1886 January 5, 1887 Sanctioned the Colombian Constitution of 1886. End of term.
Eliseo
Payán Hurtado		 January 5, 1887 June 4, 1887 Vice President, in charge of the executive President takes office.
Rafael
Núñez Moledo		 June 4, 1887 December 12, 1887 Indirect elections. Resigns from office.
Eliseo
Payán Hurtado		 December 12, 1887 February 8, 1888 Vice President by special decree, in charge of the executive. President returns to office.
Rafael
Núñez Moledo		 February 8, 1888 August 7, 1888 Returns to power after being warned of insurrection against Payán. Leaves due to illness.
Carlos
Holguín Mallarino		 August 7, 1888 August 7, 1892 1st Designate, in charge of the executive. Cedes power.
Miguel Antonio
Caro Tobar		 August 7, 1892 January 16, 1893 Vice President, in charge of the executive. Temporarily steps down.
Antonio Basilio
Cuervo Urisarri		 January 16, 1893 January 17, 1893 Minister of Government and War, in charge of the executive power. Term ends.
Miguel Antonio
Caro Tobar		 January 17, 1893 March 12, 1896 Returns to power. Temporarily steps down from power.
Guillermo
Quintero Calderón		 March 12, 1896 March 17, 1896 1st Designate, in charge of the executive power. President returns to power.
Miguel Antonio
Caro Tobar		 March 17, 1896 August 7, 1898 Returns to power. Term ends.
Manuel Antonio
Sanclemente Sanclemente		 August 7, 1898 July 31, 1900 Indirect Elections. Deposed by Military Coup.
José Manuel
Marroquín Ricaurte		 July 31, 1900 August 7, 1904 Vice President, takes power by coup. Cedes power.
Rafael
Reyes Prieto		 August 7, 1904 March 16, 1908 Indirect elections. Leaves temporarily.
Diego Euclides
de Angulo Lemos		 March 16, 1908 April 16, 1908 Interim caretaker. President returns to office.
Rafael
Reyes Prieto		 April 16, 1908 July 27, 1909 Returns to office. Resigns office.
Jorge
Holguín Mallarino		 July 27, 1909 August 4, 1909 1st Designate, in charge of the executive. Replaced by Congress.
Ramón
González Valencia		 August 4, 1909 August 7, 1910 Elected by Congress to finish the remainder of Reyes's term. Ends term.
Carlos Eugenio
Restrepo Restrepo		 August 7, 1910 August 7, 1914 Elected by National Assembly. Term ends.
José Vicente
Concha Ferreira		 August 7, 1914 August 10, 1918 Elected by National Assembly. Term ends.
Marco Fidel
Suárez		 August 10, 1918 November 11, 1921 Direct elections. Resigns from office.
Jorge
Holguín Mallarino		 November 11, 1921 August 7, 1922 1st Designate, in charge of the executive. Term ends.
Pedro Nel
Ospina Vázquez		 August 7, 1922 August 7, 1926 Direct elections. Term ends.
Miguel
Abadía Méndez		 August 7, 1926 August 7, 1930 Direct elections. Term ends.
Enrique
Olaya Herrera		 August 7, 1930 August 7, 1934 Direct elections. Term ends.
Alfonso
López Pumarejo		 August 7, 1934 August 7, 1938 Direct elections. Term ends.
Eduardo
Santos Montejo		 August 7, 1938 August 7, 1942 Direct elections. Term ends.
Alfonso
López Pumarejo		 August 7, 1942 October 9, 1942 Direct elections. Temporarily steps down to travel to Venezuela.
Carlos
Lozano y Lozano		 October 9, 1942 October 19, 1942 1st Designate, in charge of the executive. President returns to power.
Alfonso
López Pumarejo		 October 19, 1942 June 10, 1944 Direct elections. Leaves office due to wife's illness.
Darío
Echandía Olaya		 June 10, 1944 June 12, 1944 1st Designate, in charge of the executive. President returns to office.
Alfonso
López Pumarejo		 June 12, 1944 August 7, 1945 Returns to power. Resigns from office.
Alberto
Lleras Camargo		 August 7, 1945 August 7, 1946 1st Designate, in charge of the executive power. Term ends.
Mariano
Ospina Pérez		 August 7, 1946 August 7, 1950 Direct elections. Term ends.
Laureano
Gómez Castro		 August 7, 1950 November 5, 1951 Direct elections. Term ends.
Roberto
Urdaneta Arbeláez		 November 5, 1951 June 13, 1953 Direct elections. Term ends.
Gustavo
Rojas Pinilla		 June 13, 1953 May 10, 1957 Took power by Military Coup. Cedes power.
Gabriel
París Gordillo


Rafael
Navas Pardo


Deogracias
Fonseca Espinosa


Rubén
Piedrahíta Arango


Luis Ernesto
Ordóñez Castillo		 May 10, 1957 August 7, 1958 Colombian Military Junta, in charge of the executive.
París, Minister of Defence;
Naval, Commander of the Army;
Fonseca, Director of National Police.
Ordóñez, Director of DAS.		 Cede power.
Alberto
Lleras Camargo		 August 7, 1958 August 7, 1962 Direct elections. Member of the National Front. Term ends.
Guillermo León
Valencia Muñóz		 August 7, 1962 August 6, 1963 Direct elections. Member of the National Front. Temporarily steps down to travel to Venezuela.
José Antonio
Montalvo Berbeo		 August 6, 1963 August 8, 1963 1st Designate, in charge of the executive power. President returns to power.
Guillermo León
Valencia Muñóz		 August 8, 1963 August 7, 1966 Returns to power. Term ends.
Carlos
Lleras Restrepo		 August 7, 1966 August 7, 1970 Direct elections. Member of the National Front. Term ends.
Misael
Pastrana Borrero		 August 7, 1970 July 21, 1973 Direct elections. Member of the National Front. Temporarily steps down to travel to Venezuela.
Rafael
Azuero Manchola		 July 21, 1973 July 24, 1973 1st Designate, in charge of the executive power. President returns to power.
Misael
Pastrana Borrero		 July 24, 1973 August 7, 1974 Returns to power. Term ends.
Alfonso
López Michelsen		 August 7, 1974 September 20, 1975 Direct elections. Temporarily steps down from power.
Indalecio
Liévano Aguirre		 September 20, 1975 September 24, 1975 1st Designate, in charge of the executive power. President returns to power.
Alfonso
López Michelsen		 September 24, 1975 August 7, 1978 Returns to power. Term ends.
Julio César
Turbay Ayala		 August 7, 1978 February 3, 1981 Direct elections. Temporarily steps down from power.
Víctor
Mosquera Chaux		 February 3, 1981 February 11, 1981 1st Designate, in charge of the executive power. President returns to power.
Julio César
Turbay Ayala		 February 11, 1981 August 7, 1982 Returns to power. Term ends.
Belisario
Betancur Cuartas		 August 7, 1982 August 7, 1986 Direct elections. Presidents Board.
Virgilio
Barco Vargas		 August 7, 1986 August 7, 1990 Direct elections. Term ends.
César
Gaviria Trujillo		 August 7, 1990 August 7, 1994 Direct elections. Presidents Board.
Ernesto
Samper Pizano		 August 7, 1994 January 11, 1998 Direct elections. Temporarily steps down to undergo medical treatment in Canada.
Carlos
Lemos Simmonds		 January 11, 1998 January 21, 1998 Vice President, in charge of the executive power. Presidents Board.
Ernesto
Samper Pizano		 January 21, 1998 August 7, 1998 Returns to power. Presidents Board.
Andrés
Pastrana Arango		 August 7, 1998 August 7, 2002 Direct elections. Presidents Board.
Álvaro
Uribe Vélez		 August 7, 2002 August 7, 2010 Direct elections. first term 2002-2006 and Re-elected for a second term. Prime Minister of Andean Parliament (Director of Ex-Presidents Board).
Juan Manuel
Santos Calderón		 August 7, 2010 Incumbent Direct elections. Elected in 2010. Incumbent

See also