List of presidents of Uruguay

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Uruguay is a presidential republic in which the President is both the head of state and head of government. The following is a list of all the people who have held the office of President of Uruguay since 6 November 1830 (when the first constitution was adopted), with the exception of those who held the office of "President" under the National Council of Government, which served as the country's executive directory from 1955 to 1967. The first president of this list is Fructuoso Rivera, who held the office twice and once as part of the Triumvirate that ruled Uruguay from 1853 to 1854.

Most of the presidents of Uruguay have belonged to the Colorado Party, a traditionally conservative party founded by Rivera in 1836. The first free democratic elections for President were held in 1920. The current president is Luis Lacalle Pou of the National Party, who was elected for a first term in the 2019 presidential election.

Governors of Uruguay as a province[]

Oriental Province (1814–1817)[]

Province part of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Notes
1		Nicolás Rodríguez Peña (1775–1853)	9 July 1814	25 August 1814	Governor. Appointed by Gervasio Antonio de Posadas, Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.
2		Miguel Estanislao Soler (1783–1849)	25 August 1814	25 February 1815	Governor.
3		[es] (1774–1831)	26 February 1815	July 1815	Governor. Appointed by José Gervasio Artigas.
4		[es] (1789–1848)	July 1815	20 January 1817	Governor. Appointed by José Gervasio Artigas.

Cisplatine Province (1817–1828)[]

After the Portuguese conquest of the Banda Oriental the Oriental Province became a province of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves and a province of the Empire of Brazil after 1822.

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Notes
5		Carlos Frederico Lecor (1764–1836)	20 January 1817	3 February 1826	Governor.
6		[pt] (1769–1847)	3 February 1826	27 August 1828	Governor.

Oriental Province (1825–1828)[]

In the Congress of Florida the Oriental Province declared independence from the Empire of Brazil and reunited with the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Notes
7		Juan Antonio Lavalleja (1784–1853)	19 September 1825	5 July 1826	Governor. Appointed by the Congress of Florida.
8		Joaquín Suárez (1781–1868)	5 July 1826	12 October 1827	Governor.
9		Luis Eduardo Pérez (1774–1841)	12 October 1827	27 August 1828	Governor. Appointed by Juan Antonio Lavalleja.

Heads of state of Uruguay as an independent country[]

Government and Provisional General Captaincy of the Oriental State of Uruguay (1828–1830)[]

After the Preliminary Peace Convention the Oriental Province gained effective independence from the Empire of Brazil and the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Notes
9		Luis Eduardo Pérez (1774–1841)	27 August 1828	1 December 1828	Governor and Provisional Captain General. Appointed by Juan Antonio Lavalleja.
8		Joaquín Suárez (1781–1868)	1 December 1828	22 December 1828	Governor and Provisional Captain General. Appointed by the General Constituent Assembly.
10		José Rondeau (1775–1844)	22 December 1828	17 April 1830	Governor and Provisional Captain General. Appointed by the General Constituent Assembly.
7		Juan Antonio Lavalleja (1784–1853)	17 April 1830	28 June 1830	Governor and Provisional Captain General. Appointed by the General Constituent Assembly.

Oriental State of Uruguay (1830–1919)[]

The Constitution of 1830 comes into force.

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Party		Elected	Notes
7		Juan Antonio Lavalleja (1784–1853)	28 June 1830	24 October 1830		—	—	Governor and Provisional Captain General. Appointed by the General Constituent Assembly.
9		Luis Eduardo Pérez (1774–1841)	24 October 1830	6 November 1830		—	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
10		Fructuoso Rivera (1784–1854)	6 November 1830	24 October 1834		Colorado		Resigned.
11		Carlos Anaya (1777–1862)	24 October 1834	1 March 1835		Colorado	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
12		Manuel Oribe (1792–1857)	1 March 1835	24 October 1838		National		Resigned.
13		Gabriel Antonio Pereira (1794–1861)	24 October 1838	1 March 1839		Colorado	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
10		Fructuoso Rivera (1784–1854)	1 March 1839	1 March 1843		Colorado
12		Manuel Oribe (1792–1857)	16 February 1843	8 October 1851		National	—	Self-proclaimed president of the Gobierno del Cerrito, during the Uruguayan Civil War.
8		Joaquín Suárez (1781–1868)	1 March 1843	15 February 1852		Colorado	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power. President of the Gobierno de la Defensa, during the Uruguayan Civil War.
14		Bernardo Prudencio Berro (1803–1868)	15 February 1852	1 March 1852		National	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
15		Juan Francisco Giró (1791–1863)	1 March 1852	25 September 1853		National		Ousted from office by a coup d'état.
16		Venancio Flores (1808–1868)	25 September 1853	12 March 1854		Colorado	—	Triumvirate. Fructuoso Rivera and Juan Antonio Lavalleja died in office.
10		Fructuoso Rivera (1784–1854)	25 September 1853	13 January 1854		Colorado
7		Juan Antonio Lavalleja (1784–1853)	25 September 1853	22 October 1853		—
16		Venancio Flores (1808–1868)	12 March 1854	10 September 1855		Colorado		Resigned.
17		Luis Lamas (1807–1904)	29 August 1855	10 September 1855		Conservative	—	Self-proclaimed president after the  [es].
18		[es] (1785–1863)	10 September 1855	15 February 1856		Colorado	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
19		[es] (1794–1869)	15 February 1856	1 March 1856		Colorado	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
13		Gabriel Antonio Pereira (1794–1861)	1 March 1856	1 March 1860		Colorado
14		Bernardo Prudencio Berro (1803–1868)	1 March 1860	1 March 1864		National
20		Atanasio Cruz Aguirre (1801–1875)	1 March 1864	15 February 1865		National	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power. Resigned after the Brazilian invasion.
21		Tomás Villalba (1805–1886)	15 February 1865	20 February 1865		National	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power. Resigned after the Brazilian invasion.
16		Venancio Flores (1808–1868)	20 February 1865	15 February 1868		Colorado	—	De facto president after the Brazilian invasion. Assumed power as Provisional Governor for 3 years.
22		Pedro Varela (1837–1906)	15 February 1868	1 March 1868		Colorado	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
23		Lorenzo Batlle (1810–1887)	1 March 1868	1 March 1872		Colorado
24		Tomás Gomensoro Albín (1810–1900)	1 March 1872	1 March 1873		Colorado	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
25		José Eugenio Ellauri (1834–1894)	1 March 1873	22 January 1875		Colorado		Forced to resign by a coup d'état.
22		Pedro Varela (1837–1906)	22 January 1875	10 March 1876		Colorado	—	Appointed by the General Assembly. Forced to resign by a coup d'état.
–		Lorenzo Latorre (1844–1916)	10 March 1876	1 March 1879		Colorado	—	Assumed power as Provisional Governor.
26			1 March 1879	15 March 1880				Resigned.
27		Francisco Antonino Vidal (1825–1889)	15 March 1880	1 March 1882		Colorado	—	Appointed as President by the General Assembly to finish the presidential period 1879-1883. Resigned.
28		Máximo Santos (1847–1889)	1 March 1882	1 March 1886		Colorado	—	Appointed by the General Assembly for a term of 4 years.
27		Francisco Antonino Vidal (1825–1889)	1 March 1886	24 May 1886		Colorado		Resigned.
28		Máximo Santos (1847–1889)	24 May 1886	18 November 1886		Colorado	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power. Resigned.
29		Máximo Tajes (1852–1912)	18 November 1886	1 March 1890		Colorado	—	Appointed as President by the General Assembly to finish the presidential period 1886-1890.
30		Julio Herrera y Obes (1841–1912)	1 March 1890	1 March 1894		Colorado
31		Duncan Stewart (1833–1923)	1 March 1894	21 March 1894		Colorado	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
32		Juan Idiarte Borda (1844–1897)	21 March 1894	25 August 1897		Colorado		Assassinated.
33		Juan Lindolfo Cuestas (1837–1905)	25 August 1897	10 February 1898		Colorado	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
			10 February 1898	15 February 1899				De facto president following a self-coup. Resigned.
34		José Batlle y Ordóñez (1856–1929)	15 February 1899	1 March 1899		Colorado	—	President of the Senate exercising the Executive Power.
33		Juan Lindolfo Cuestas (1837–1905)	1 March 1899	1 March 1903		Colorado
34		José Batlle y Ordóñez (1856–1929)	1 March 1903	1 March 1907		Colorado
35		Claudio Williman (1861–1934)	1 March 1907	1 March 1911		Colorado
34		José Batlle y Ordóñez (1856–1929)	1 March 1911	1 March 1915		Colorado
36		Feliciano Viera (1872–1927)	1 March 1915	1 March 1919		Colorado

Oriental Republic of Uruguay (1919–present)[]

The Constitution of 1918 comes into force. According to the Constitution, the president is elected by direct popular election for a term of five years. He may be re-elected any number of times, but is ineligible for immediate re-election.

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Party		Elected	Notes	Vice President
37		Baltasar Brum (1883–1933)	1 March 1919	1 March 1923		Colorado		The President served as part of the executive alongside the National Administration Council, headed by a President: 1 March 1919 – 1 March 1921: Feliciano Viera 1 March 1921 – 1 March 1923: José Batlle y Ordóñez	Post not established
38		José Serrato (1868–1960)	1 March 1923	1 March 1927		Colorado	1922	The President served as part of the executive alongside the National Administration Council, headed by a President: 1 March 1923 – 1 March 1925: 1 March 1925 – 1 March 1927: Luis Alberto de Herrera
39		Juan Campisteguy (1859–1937)	1 March 1927	1 March 1931		Colorado	1926	The President served as part of the executive alongside the National Administration Council, headed by a President: 1 March 1927 – 16 February 1928: José Batlle y Ordóñez 6 February 1928 – 1 March 1929: 1 March 1929 – 1 March 1931: Baltasar Brum
40		Gabriel Terra (1873–1942)	1 March 1931	31 March 1933		Colorado	1930	The President served as part of the executive alongside the National Administration Council, headed by a President: 1 March 1931 – 1 March 1933: 1 March 1933 – 31 March 1933: Antonio Rubio Pérez
40			31 March 1933	18 May 1934			—	De facto president following a self-coup.
			18 May 1934	19 June 1938				Provisional president elected by the 3rd National Constituent Convention.	Alfredo Navarro
41		Alfredo Baldomir (1884–1948)	19 June 1938	21 February 1942		Colorado	1938		César Charlone
–			21 February 1942	1 March 1943			—	De facto president following a self-coup.
42		Juan José de Amézaga (1881–1956)	1 March 1943	1 March 1947		Colorado	1942		Alberto Guani
43		Tomás Berreta (1875–1947)	1 March 1947	2 August 1947		Colorado	1946	Died in office.	Luis Batlle Berres
44		Luis Batlle Berres (1897–1964)	2 August 1947	1 March 1951		Colorado	—	Vice-president under Berreta, assumed the presidency after his death.	Alfeo Brum
45		Andrés Martínez Trueba (1884–1959)	1 March 1951	1 March 1952		Colorado	1950	The post of President was replaced by the National Council of Government.
46		National Council of Government 1952–55	1 March 1952	1 March 1955		Colorado	—	The National Council of Government was headed by a President for the remaining of the 1951–1955 period: 1 March 1952 – 1 March 1955: Andrés Martínez Trueba	Post abolished
47		National Council of Government 1955–59	1 March 1955	1 March 1959		Colorado	1954	The National Council of Government was headed by a President rotating every year: 1 March 1955 – 1 March 1956: Luis Batlle Berres 1 March 1956 – 1 March 1957: Alberto Fermín Zubiría 1 March 1957 – 1 March 1958: Arturo Lezama 1 March 1958 – 1 March 1959: Carlos Fischer
48		National Council of Government 1959–63	1 March 1959	1 March 1963		National	1958	The National Council of Government was headed by a President rotating every year: 1 March 1959 – 1 March 1960: Martín Echegoyen 1 March 1960 – 1 March 1961: Benito Nardone 1 March 1961 – 1 March 1962: Eduardo Víctor Haedo 1 March 1962 – 1 March 1963: Faustino Harrison
49		National Council of Government 1963–67	1 March 1963	1 March 1967		National	1962	The National Council of Government was headed by a President rotating every year: 1 March 1963 – 1 March 1964: Daniel Fernández Crespo 1 March 1964 – 1 March 1965: Luis Giannattasio 1 March 1965 – 1 March 1966: Washington Beltrán 1 March 1966 – 1 March 1967: Alberto Héber Usher
50		Óscar Diego Gestido (1901–1967)	1 March 1967	6 December 1967		Colorado	1966	Died in office.	Jorge Pacheco Areco
51		Jorge Pacheco Areco (1920–1998)	6 December 1967	1 March 1972		Colorado	—	Vice-president under Gestido, assumed the presidency after his death.	Alberto Abdala
52		Juan María Bordaberry (1928–2011)	1 March 1972	27 June 1973		Colorado	1971		Jorge Sapelli
52			27 June 1973	12 June 1976			—	1973 Uruguayan coup d'état, start of the dictatorship between 1973 and 1985. Ousted from office.	Vacant
53		Alberto Demicheli (1896–1980)	12 June 1976	1 September 1976		Colorado	—	Appointed by the Armed Forces. Ousted from office.
54		Aparicio Méndez (1904–1988)	1 September 1976	1 September 1981		National	—	Appointed by the Armed Forces for a term of 5 years.
55		Gregorio Conrado Álvarez (1925–2016)	1 September 1981	12 February 1985		Military	—	Appointed by the Armed Forces. Resigned.
56		Rafael Addiego Bruno (1923–2014)	12 February 1985	1 March 1985		Civic Union	—	President of the Supreme Court, appointed by the Armed Forces.
57		Julio María Sanguinetti (born 1936)	1 March 1985	1 March 1990		Colorado	1984	First democratic President after the 1973-1985 dictatorship.	Enrique Tarigo
58		Luis Alberto Lacalle (born 1941)	1 March 1990	1 March 1995		National	1989		Gonzalo Aguirre
59		Julio María Sanguinetti (born 1936)	1 March 1995	1 March 2000		Colorado	1994		Hugo Batalla
									Hugo Fernández Faingold
60		Jorge Batlle (1927–2016)	1 March 2000	1 March 2005		Colorado	1999		Luis Hierro López
61		Tabaré Vázquez (1940–2020)	1 March 2005	1 March 2010		Broad Front	2004		Rodolfo Nin Novoa
62		José Mujica (born 1935)	1 March 2010	1 March 2015		Broad Front	2009		Danilo Astori
63		Tabaré Vázquez (1940–2020)	1 March 2015	1 March 2020		Broad Front	2014		Raúl Fernando Sendic Rodríguez
									Lucía Topolansky
64		Luis Lacalle Pou (born 1973)	1 March 2020	Incumbent (Term ends on 1 March 2025)		National	2019		Beatriz Argimón

Timeline[]

See also[]

• History of Uruguay
• Politics of Uruguay