List of presidents of Uruguay facts for kids

Uruguay is a country in South America. It's a republic, which means its leader, the president, is chosen by the people. The president is both the head of state (the main representative of the country) and the head of government (the person in charge of running the country day-to-day).

This article lists all the people who have been president of Uruguay since November 6, 1830. That's when Uruguay's first constitution, which is like a rulebook for the country, was put in place. We won't include leaders from the "National Council of Government" period (1955-1967) because they were a group of leaders, not a single president.

The first president on this list is Fructuoso Rivera. He was president twice and also part of a group of three leaders called a Triumvirate. Most of Uruguay's presidents have been from the Colorado Party. This party was started by Fructuoso Rivera in 1836. The first time people could freely vote for president was in 1922.

Today, the president is Luis Lacalle Pou from the National Party. He was chosen in the 2019 election.

Early Leaders of Uruguay

Before Uruguay became fully independent, it was a province with different governors. These leaders helped shape the country's early history.

Governors of the Oriental Province (1814–1817)

This area was once part of a larger group of provinces called the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Notes
1		Nicolás Rodríguez Peña (1775–1853)	9 July 1814	25 August 1814	He was a governor. He was chosen by Gervasio Antonio de Posadas, a main leader of the United Provinces.
2		Miguel Estanislao Soler (1783–1849)	25 August 1814	25 February 1815	He was a governor.
3		Fernando Otorgués [es] (1774–1831)	26 February 1815	July 1815	He was a governor. He was chosen by José Gervasio Artigas.
4		Miguel Barreiro [es] (1789–1848)	July 1815	20 January 1817	He was a governor. He was chosen by José Gervasio Artigas.

Cisplatine Province (1817–1828)

After being taken over by Portugal, the Oriental Province became part of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. Later, in 1822, it became a province of the Empire of Brazil.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Notes
5		Carlos Frederico Lecor (1764–1836)	20 January 1817	3 February 1826	He was a governor.
6		Francisco de Paula Magessi Tavares de Carvalho [pt] (1769–1847)	3 February 1826	27 August 1828	He was a governor.

Oriental Province (1825–1828)

In 1825, the Oriental Province declared itself independent from the Empire of Brazil. It then joined back with the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.

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

Leaders of Independent Uruguay

Uruguay became truly independent after the Preliminary Peace Convention. This agreement meant it was no longer controlled by the Empire of Brazil or the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata.

Provisional Government (1828–1830)

During this time, Uruguay was setting up its own government. Leaders served as provisional governors and captains general.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Notes
(9)		Luis Eduardo Pérez (1774–1841)	27 August 1828	1 December 1828	He was a provisional governor and captain general. He was chosen by Juan Antonio Lavalleja.
(8)		Joaquín Suárez (1781–1868)	2 December 1828	22 December 1828	He was a provisional governor and captain general. He was chosen by the General Constituent Assembly.
10		José Rondeau (1775–1844)	22 December 1828	17 April 1830	He was a provisional governor and captain general. He was chosen by the General Constituent Assembly. He stepped down.
(7)		Juan Antonio Lavalleja (1784–1853)	17 April 1830	28 June 1830	He was a provisional governor and captain general. He was chosen by the General Constituent Assembly.

Oriental State of Uruguay (1830–1919)

The Constitution of 1830 officially started. This set up the rules for how the country would be governed, including the role of the president.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Party		Elected	Notes
(7)		Juan Antonio Lavalleja (1784–1853)	28 June 1830	24 October 1830		—	—	He was a provisional governor and captain general. He was chosen by the General Constituent Assembly.
(9)		Luis Eduardo Pérez (1774–1841)	24 October 1830	6 November 1830		—	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power.
10		Fructuoso Rivera (1784–1854)	6 November 1830	24 October 1834		—	1830	He was the 1st Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He stepped down.
11		Carlos Anaya (1777–1862)	24 October 1834	1 March 1835		Colorado	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power.
12		Manuel Oribe (1792–1857)	1 March 1835	24 October 1838		National	1835	He was the 2nd Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He stepped down.
13		Gabriel Antonio Pereira (1794–1861)	24 October 1838	1 March 1839		Colorado	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power.
10		Fructuoso Rivera (1784–1854)	1 March 1839	1 March 1843		Colorado	1839	He was the 3rd Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly.
12		Manuel Oribe (1792–1857)	16 February 1843	8 October 1851		National	—	He declared himself president of the Gobierno del Cerrito during the Uruguayan Civil War.
8		Joaquín Suárez (1781–1868)	1 March 1843	15 February 1852		Colorado	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. He was 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	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power.
15		Juan Francisco Giró (1791–1863)	1 March 1852	25 September 1853		National	1852	He was the 4th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He was removed from office by a coup d'état (a sudden, illegal takeover of power).
16		Venancio Flores (1808–1868)	25 September 1853	12 March 1854		Colorado	—	He was part of a Triumvirate (a group of three leaders). Fructuoso Rivera and Juan Antonio Lavalleja passed away while 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	1854	He was the 5th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He stepped down.
17		Luis María Lamas (1793–1864)	29 August 1855	10 September 1855		Conservative	—	He declared himself president after a rebellion by conservatives.
18		Manuel Basilio Bustamante (1785–1863)	10 September 1855	15 February 1856		Colorado	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power.
19		José María Plá [es] (1794–1869)	15 February 1856	1 March 1856		Colorado	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power.
13		Gabriel Antonio Pereira (1794–1861)	1 March 1856	1 March 1860		Colorado	1856	He was the 6th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly.
14		Bernardo Prudencio Berro (1803–1868)	1 March 1860	1 March 1864		National	1860	He was the 7th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly.
20		Atanasio Cruz Aguirre (1801–1875)	1 March 1864	15 February 1865		National	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. He stepped down after the Brazilian invasion.
21		Tomás Villalba (1805–1886)	15 February 1865	20 February 1865		National	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. He stepped down after the Brazilian invasion.
16		Venancio Flores (1808–1868)	20 February 1865	15 February 1868		Colorado	—	He became president de facto (in practice, but not officially by law) after the Brazilian invasion. He served as Provisional Governor for 3 years.
22		Pedro Varela (1837–1906)	15 February 1868	1 March 1868		Colorado	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power.
23		Lorenzo Batlle (1810–1887)	1 March 1868	1 March 1872		Colorado	1868	He was the 8th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly.
24		Tomás Gomensoro Albín (1810–1900)	1 March 1872	1 March 1873		Colorado	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power.
25		José Eugenio Ellauri (1834–1894)	1 March 1873	22 January 1875		Colorado	1873	He was the 9th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He stepped down.
22		Pedro Varela (1837–1906)	22 January 1875	10 March 1876		Colorado	—	He was the 10th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly after Ellauri stepped down. He was removed by a coup d'état.
–		Lorenzo Latorre (1844–1916)	10 March 1876	1 March 1879		Colorado	—	He took power as Provisional Governor.
26			1 March 1879	15 March 1880			1879	He was the 11th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He stepped down.
27		Francisco Antonino Vidal (1825–1889)	15 March 1880	1 March 1882		Colorado	—	He was the 12th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly to finish the presidential term. He stepped down.
28		Máximo Santos (1847–1889)	1 March 1882	1 March 1886		Colorado	—	He was the 13th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly for a 4-year term.
27		Francisco Antonino Vidal (1825–1889)	1 March 1886	24 May 1886		Colorado	1886	He was the 14th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He stepped down.
28		Máximo Santos (1847–1889)	24 May 1886	18 November 1886		Colorado	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power. He stepped down.
29		Máximo Tajes (1852–1912)	18 November 1886	1 March 1890		Colorado	—	He was the 15th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly to finish the presidential term.
30		Julio Herrera y Obes (1841–1912)	1 March 1890	1 March 1894		Colorado	1890	He was the 16th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly.
31		Duncan Stewart (1833–1923)	1 March 1894	21 March 1894		Colorado	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power.
32		Juan Idiarte Borda (1844–1897)	21 March 1894	25 August 1897		Colorado	1894	He was the 17th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. He was assassinated.
33		Juan Lindolfo Cuestas (1837–1905)	25 August 1897	10 February 1898		Colorado	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power.
			10 February 1898	15 February 1899				He became president de facto after he took power himself. He stepped down.
34		José Batlle y Ordóñez (1856–1929)	15 February 1899	1 March 1899		Colorado	—	He was the President of the Senate and temporarily held the executive power.
33		Juan Lindolfo Cuestas (1837–1905)	1 March 1899	1 March 1903		Colorado	1899	He was the 18th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly.
34		José Batlle y Ordóñez (1856–1929)	1 March 1903	1 March 1907		Colorado	1903	He was the 19th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly.
35		Claudio Williman (1861–1934)	1 March 1907	1 March 1911		Colorado	1907	He was the 20th Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly.
34		José Batlle y Ordóñez (1856–1929)	1 March 1911	1 March 1915		Colorado	1911	He was the 21st Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly.
36		Feliciano Viera (1872–1927)	1 March 1915	1 March 1919		Colorado	1915	He was the 22nd Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly.

Oriental Republic of Uruguay (1919–present)

The Constitution of 1918 came into effect. This new constitution changed how the president was chosen. Now, the president is elected directly by the people for a five-year term. They can be re-elected, but not right away.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Party		Elected	Notes	Vice President
37		Baltasar Brum (1883–1933)	1 March 1919	1 March 1923		Colorado	1919	He was the 23rd Constitutional President, chosen by the General Assembly. During this time, the president worked with a group called the National Council of Administration, which also had its own 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	He was the 24th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. He also worked with the National Council of Administration: 1 March 1923 – 1 March 1925: Julio María Sosa 1 March 1925 – 1 March 1927: Luis Alberto de Herrera
39		Juan Campisteguy (1859–1937)	1 March 1927	1 March 1931		Colorado	1926	He was the 25th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. He also worked with the National Council of Administration: 1 March 1927 – 16 February 1928: José Batlle y Ordóñez 6 February 1928 – 1 March 1929: Luis Caviglia 1 March 1929 – 1 March 1931: Baltasar Brum
40		Gabriel Terra (1873–1942)	1 March 1931	31 March 1933		Colorado	1930	He was the 26th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. He also worked with the National Council of Administration: 1 March 1931 – 1 March 1933: Juan Pedro Fabini 1 March 1933 – 31 March 1933: Antonio Rubio Pérez
40			31 March 1933	18 May 1934			—	He became president de facto after he took power himself.
			18 May 1934	19 June 1938				He was a provisional president chosen by the 3rd National Constituent Convention.	Alfredo Navarro
41		Alfredo Baldomir (1884–1948)	19 June 1938	21 February 1942		Colorado	1938	He was the 27th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens.	César Charlone
–			21 February 1942	1 March 1943			—	He became president de facto after he took power himself.
42		Juan José de Amézaga (1881–1956)	1 March 1943	1 March 1947		Colorado	1942	He was the 28th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens.	Alberto Guani
43		Tomás Berreta (1875–1947)	1 March 1947	2 August 1947		Colorado	1946	He was the 29th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. He passed away while in office.	Luis Batlle Berres
44		Luis Batlle Berres (1897–1964)	2 August 1947	1 March 1951		Colorado	—	He was the 30th Constitutional President. He was the Vice-President under Berreta and became president after Berreta's death.	Alfeo Brum
45		Andrés Martínez Trueba (1884–1959)	1 March 1951	1 March 1952		Colorado	1950	He was the 31st Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. The role of president was later replaced by the National Council of Government.
46		National Council of Government 1952–1955	1 March 1952	1 March 1955		Colorado	—	This was a group of leaders. The National Council of Government had a president who led for the rest of the 1951–1955 period: 1 March 1952 – 1 March 1955: Andrés Martínez Trueba	Post abolished
47		National Council of Government 1955–1959	1 March 1955	1 March 1959		Colorado	1954	This group of leaders had a president who changed each 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 1959–1963	1 March 1959	1 March 1963		National	1958	This group of leaders had a president who changed each 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	This group of leaders had a president who changed each year: 1 March 1963 – 1 March 1964: Daniel Fernández Crespo 1 March 1964 – 7 February 1965: Luis Giannattasio 7 February 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	He was the 32nd Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. He passed away while in office.	Jorge Pacheco Areco
51		Jorge Pacheco Areco (1920–1998)	6 December 1967	1 March 1972		Colorado	—	He was the 33rd Constitutional President. He was the Vice-President under Gestido and became president after his death.	Alberto Abdala
52		Juan María Bordaberry (1928–2011)	1 March 1972	27 June 1973		Colorado	1971	He was the 34th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens.	Jorge Sapelli
52			27 June 1973	12 June 1976			—	A 1973 Uruguayan coup d'état happened, starting a period of military rule (a dictatorship) from 1973 to 1985. He was removed from office.	Vacant
53		Alberto Demicheli (1896–1980)	12 June 1976	1 September 1976		Colorado	—	He was chosen by the Armed Forces. He was removed from office.
54		Aparicio Méndez (1904–1988)	1 September 1976	1 September 1981		National	—	He was chosen by the Armed Forces for a 5-year term.
55		Gregorio Álvarez (1925–2016)	1 September 1981	12 February 1985		Military	—	He was chosen by the Armed Forces. He stepped down.
56		Rafael Addiego (1923–2014)	12 February 1985	1 March 1985		Civic Union	—	He was the President of the Supreme Court, chosen by the Armed Forces.
57		Julio María Sanguinetti (born 1936)	1 March 1985	1 March 1990		Colorado	1984	He was the 35th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens. He was the first democratically elected president after the military rule (1973-1985).	Enrique Tarigo
58		Luis Alberto Lacalle (born 1941)	1 March 1990	1 March 1995		National	1989	He was the 36th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens.	Gonzalo Aguirre Ramírez
59		Julio María Sanguinetti (born 1936)	1 March 1995	1 March 2000		Colorado	1994	He was the 37th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens.	Hugo Batalla
									Hugo Fernández Faingold
60		Jorge Batlle (1927–2016)	1 March 2000	1 March 2005		Colorado	1999	He was the 38th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens.	Luis Antonio Hierro López
61		Tabaré Vázquez (1940–2020)	1 March 2005	1 March 2010		Broad Front	2004	He was the 39th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens.	Rodolfo Nin Novoa
62		José Mujica (born 1935)	1 March 2010	1 March 2015		Broad Front	2009	He was the 40th Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens.	Danilo Astori
63		Tabaré Vázquez (1940–2020)	1 March 2015	1 March 2020		Broad Front	2014	He was the 41st Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens.	Raúl Sendic Rodríguez
									Lucía Topolansky
64		Luis Lacalle Pou (born 1973)	1 March 2020	Incumbent (Term ends on 1 March 2025)		National	2019	He is the 42nd Constitutional President, chosen by the citizens.	Beatriz Argimón

Timeline of Presidents

More About Uruguay

• History of Uruguay
• Politics of Uruguay