The Americas

Modern Colombia
AD 1831 - Present Day
Incorporating Heads of State (1831-2026), State / Republic of New Grenada (1831-1858), Grenadine Confederation (1858-1861), United States of New Grenada (1861), United States of Colombia (1861-1886), & Republic of Colombia (1886-On)

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Located in South America, the constitutional republic of Colombia borders Panama to the north, Venezuela to the east, Ecuador and Peru to the south-west, and Brazil to the south-east. The capital is Santa Fe de Bogota. The country's constitutional republican origins date back to 1831, making it the oldest such government in South America.

The 'New Kingdom of Granada' (as opposed to the old kingdom of Granada in Spain) was created to encompass those territories which now cover northern and central Colombia, almost all of Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Panama, northern Venezuela, and north-western Guyana.

Those territories and their native inhabitants were conquered between 1509 and 1520, with the natives including Inca, Muisca, Quimbaya, and Tairona. Collectively these lands were labelled 'Nueva Reino de Granada', or simply Nueva Granada. Santa Marta was founded on 29 July 1525, Cartagena de Indias on 1 June 1533, and Fe de Bogota on 6 August 1538.

The latter became the capital of the new Spanish Colonial administration which was confirmed in 1543. Initially it was administered from the 'Viceroyalty of Peru', until increasing administrative complexity meant that it was divided to become part of the 'Viceroyalty of New Granada' in 1717.

The country which today is Colombia emerged from the disintegration of Gran Colombia in 1830-1831, which itself was a surviving portion of the late Spanish colonial possession of New Granada. Colombia formed the 'State of New Granada' on 21 November 1831 with Domingo Caycedo as its acting president. This territory included Panama and would soon be headed by an elected president.

This was renamed on 20 April 1843 as the 'Republic of New Granada', but more name changes were to follow. The republic was dissolved and, on 22 May 1858, this was replaced by the 'Grenadine Confederation'. The confederation became the 'United States of New Granada' on 18 July 1861. Just two months later it was renamed the 'United States of Colombia', on 20 September 1861. Finally, on 5 August 1886, the USC became the 'Republic of Colombia'.

Please note that the History Files does not regularly monitor changes in modern heads of state or their representatives. Get in touch here if this section requires updating.

Principal author(s): Page created: Page last updated:

(Information by Peter Kessler and the John De Cleene Archive, with additional information from Historia de la República del Perú, Jorge Basadre Grohmann (Ediciones Historia, Fifth Edition, Volume VIII, 1963, in Spanish), from Colonial Latin America, Mark A Burkholder & Lyman L Johnson (Tenth Edition, Oxford University Press, 2018), from Historical Atlas of the World, R R Palmer (Ed, Chicago, 1963), from Times Atlas of World History (Maplewood, New Jersey, 1979), from National Geographic (March 1994), from Historical Evolution of Hispanic America, J Fredrick Rippy (Second Ed, FS Crofts and Company, 1942), from Washington Post (28 September 1994), from Colombia Elects A Hard Liner on Fighting Rebels (Washington Post, 27 May 2002), from Colombia Poised To Install Leader as Rebels Attack (Washington Post, 7 August 2002), and from External Links: History of the United Nations, and Indigenous Americans had contact with Polynesians 800 years ago, DNA reveals (The Guardian), and Latin America in World War I, and Colombia (Flags of the World), and Colombia (Rulers.org), and Splits form among Colombia's Farc rebels (The Guardian), and César Gaviria Trujillo (On The Empty Chair, in Spanish), and The Real Colombia (Palladium), and Why Colombia's Petro is not Maduro (The Guardian).)

1831

Acting president of New Granada out of Gran Colombia.

1831 - 1832

Acting liberal president of New Granada.

1832

Acting president of New Granada (Mar-Oct only).

1832 - 1837

Acting federalist president of New Granada.

1837 - 1841

President of New Granada.

1840 - 1841

Panama again declares its independence under the leadership of General Tomas Herrera (the anti-hero of 1831), becoming the 'Free State of the Isthmus'. The end of the civil conflict in 1841 which allows this breakaway also allows the peaceful reincorporation of the isthmus into the 'State of New Granada'.

The Federal Republic of Central America was formed of Chiapas, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This lasted from 1823-1841, by which time Mexico had grabbed much of Chiapas and the republic itself dissolved into the separate nation states known today - although Nicaragua did not control the independent Mosquito Coast until the end of the century, and British troops occupied eastern Belize (click or tap on map to view full sized)

1841

Acting president of New Granada (Apr-May only)

1841 - 1845

President of New Granada (May 1841 on).

1843

In partial recognition of and as part of a reorganisation due to Panama's re-inclusion, on 20 April the 'State of New Granada' is renamed the 'Republic of New Granada'.

1845 - 1849

President of New Granada.

1846

The signing of the Bidlack Mallarino Treaty between New Granada and the USA ensures that Panama will remain within the republic, with both parties joining together to put down liberalist attempts to create an independent state, and with the USA in return gaining rights to build railways and roads through the isthmus.

1849 - 1853

President of New Granada. Liberal.

1853 - 1854

Acting president of New Granada. Liberal.

1854

Supreme chief of state (Apr-Dec only).

1854

Six-time governor in Panama, General Tomás de Herrera is in rebellion against José Maria Melo in April-August 1854. Two-time governor José de Obaldia also rebels in August, with his resistance lasting until December when he becomes acting president.

The ruins of the Old Panama of the Spanish empire and New Granada periods are now surrounded by a modern city of Panama which has largely shed its colonial trappings

1854

Former governor in Panama. Rival president (Apr-Aug only).

1854

Rival president (Aug-Dec only). Liberal.

1854 - 1855

President of New Granada. Liberal.

1855 - 1857

Acting president of New Granada. Liberal.

1855 - 1856

A constitutional change is enacted on 27 February 1855 which allows the provinces within New Granada to organise themselves as sovereign states whilst remaining part of New Granada. On the same date, the federal state of Panama is created by federal legislation.

In the following year the federal state of Antioquia is created within the republic of New Granada. Federal legislation enacts this formation on 11 June 1856.

1857 - 1858

President of New Granada.

1858

The sovereign federal states of Bolivar, Boyacá, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, and Santander are created through federal legislation on 13 May. Each is nominally independent with its own ruler. The republic is dissolved and the 'Grenadine Confederation' is formed in its place, on 22 May 1858.

Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera led a liberal uprising in Colombia in 1860 which quickly turned into a civil war involving several battles and the eventual installation of Mosquera as dictator

1861

Provisional president of Grenadine Confederation (Jul-Sep only).

1861 - 1863

Provisional president of United States of New Granada.

1861 - 1863

Following a two-year civil war the 'Grenadine Confederation' officially becomes the 'United States of New Granada' on 18 July 1863, modelled on the format used by the USA. Just two months later, on 20 September 1863, it is renamed again as the 'United States of Colombia' (or USC).

This fresh administrative structure includes the territories of Antioquia, Bolivar, Boyaca, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Panama, Santander, and Tolima, and the territories of Caqueta, San Martin, Nevada, and Motilones.

1863

President of the convention (4-9 Feb only).

1863

President of the executive ministry (9 Feb-May). Liberal.

1863 - 1864

President (acting 1-8 Apr). Liberal.

1864 - 1866

President of USC (8 April-Apr 1866). Liberal.

1866

Acting president (Apr-May only).

1866 - 1867

President (May 1866-Nov 1867). Liberal.

1867

Rival president (May-Jun only).

1867

Joaquin Riascos finds himself in rebellion against General Mosquera, the country's current president, between May 12 to June 1867. Mosquera is suspended and Santos Acosta is made acting president in his place on 23 May 1867. Acosta becomes president of the United States of Colombia while Mosquera is arrested for refusing to leave office.

Issued during the period 1837-1846, this sixteen pesos coin was struck at Bogata and Popayan and declares itself to be coinage of the 'Republic of New Granada'

1867 - 1868

President of USC. Liberal.

1868 - 1870

President of USC. Liberal.

1870 - 1872

President of USC. Liberal.

1872 - 1874

President of USC. Liberal.

1874 - 1876

President of USC. Liberal.

1876 - 1878

President of USC. Liberal.

1878 - 1880

President of USC (acting 1-8 Apr). Liberal.

1880 - 1882

President of USC (8 Apr 1880-Apr 1882). Conservative.

1882

President of USC (Apr-2 Dec only).

1882

Acting president of USC (21-22 Dec only).

1882 - 1884

President of USC (22 Dec 1882-Apr 1884).

1884

Acting president of USC (Apr-Aug only).

1884 - 1886

President of USC (Aug 1884-Apr 1886).

1887

Acting president of USC (Apr-Aug only). Conservative.

1886

The USC has never been stable, wracked by internal differences and civil wars, so a new constitution is proclaimed by the ruling party, and the 'United States of Colombia' is abolished on 5 August 1886 in favour of the 'Republic of Colombia'.

This coin was minted by the newly-formed United States of Colombia in 1874, with it being the obverse of a twenty centavos piece

1886 - 1887

Acting president of the new republic of Colombia. Conservative.

1887 - 1892

President of Colombia (Aug onwards). Conservative.

1885 - 1895

Núñez may be president between 1885-1895, but he is reputed to suffer from ill health from 1888 onwards. Acting presidents during that time are Cárlos Holguin (conservative) between 1888-1892 and Miguel Antonio Caro (conservative), between 1892-1895.

1899 - 1902

The Thousand Days War ignites between the country's liberal and conservative political parties when the latter are accused of retaining power through rigged elections. The liberals are defeated, but the conservatives also lose their appetite for the conflict, and peace is regained with the signing of a treaty in 1902.

1892

President of Colombia (Aug-Sep only). Conservative.

1892 - 1894

President of Colombia (Sep onwards). Conservative.

1894 - 1898

President of Colombia. Conservative.

1898 - 1902

President of Colombia. Conservative.

1900 - 1902

Sanclemente is suspended on 31 July 1900, and José Manuel Marroquin is designated as acting president in his place. He officially succeeds Sanclemente in March 1902.

Building the Panama canal was an immense project for its time, but the USA's need for it was vital as it would allow them coast-to-coast access on either side of their country without having to sail all the way around the southern tip of South America

1902 - 1904

President of Colombia.

1902 - 1903

The USA decides to take control of and complete the abandoned French work on the Panama Canal. The Colombian government is naturally reluctant to allow that level of control to fall outside its hands so it refuses permission.

The US decides to support Panamanian demands for independence and, in 1903, the isthmus separates and becomes the republic of Panama, with a small US military force preventing Colombia from sending troops by sea to regain its province.

1904 - 1909

President of Colombia (to Jul 1909).

1909

Acting president of Colombia (Jul-Aug only). Conservative.

1909 - 1910

Provisional president (Aug 1909 on). Conservative.

1910 - 1914

President of Colombia. Conservative.

1914 - 1918

President of Colombia. Conservative.

1917 - 1918

Unlike many of its neighbours in the Americas, Colombia remains neutral during the First World War against Germany and the Austro-Hungarian empire.

With the various peoples who made up its ethnically-diverse population pulling apart from it in 1918, Vienna was left with a rump state which greatly reduced its power and significance in post-Austro-Hungarian empire Europe

1918 - 1922

President of Colombia. Conservative.

1922 - 1926

President of Colombia. Conservative.

1922 - 1930

With the signing of the Treaty of Salomon-Lozano, Peru agrees the borders with Colombia by ceding all territory between the Putumayo and Caqueta rivers. The treaty is only published in 1930.

1926 - 1930

President of Colombia. Conservative.

1930 - 1934

President of Colombia. Liberal.

1932 - 1933

The Treaty of Salomon-Lozano has been declared null and void by the end of September 1932 so Peru and Colombia prepare for war, although it is never announced as such. The president of Peru is assassinated before hostilities can commence, and his replacement negotiates peace with Colombia (by 1934).

1934 - 1938

President of Colombia. Liberal.

1938 - 1942

President of Colombia.

1942 - 1945

President of Colombia. Liberal. Resigned.

1943 - 1945

Following the declaration of the United Nations in 1942, Colombia joins the Second World War as an ally of the USA and Great Britain on 26 July 1943, against Japan, Germany and Italy.

In San Francisco, USA, in summer 1945, representatives of fifty countries signed the United Nations charter to establish a new, international body which was tasked with upholding the human rights of citizens the world over

1946 - 1946

Acting president of Colombia. Liberal.

1945

Representatives of fifty countries gather at the 'United Nations Conference on International Organization' in California's San Francisco, USA, between 25 April and 26 June 1945.

In that time they draft and then sign the UN charter, which creates this new international organisation. It is hoped that it will be able to prevent another world war like the one just ended. Colombia joins the United Nations on 5 Nvember, twelve days after its formation.

1946 - 1950

President of Colombia. Conservative.

1950 - 1953

President of Colombia. Conservative.

1951 - 1953

The liberals and conservatives wage a civil war during this period. Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez (conservative) act for Gómez between 1951 and 13 June 1953. Gómez resumes his post for one day on 13 June. A military coup follows the civil war when General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla seizes power after having been the army chief of staff.

Gustavo Rojas Pinilla is shown here at an official event shortly after he assumed office in 1953 as Colombia's latest president, previously having been the army chief of staff

1953 - 1957

Army general who led a coup.

1957

A military junta is formed, with members including Gabriel Paris Gordillo as chairman, and Rubén Piedrahita Arango, Deogracias Fonseca Espinosa, Luis Ernesto Ordóñez Castillo, and Rafael Navas Pardo. A national front is created in 1958 to provide for the rotation between liberals and conservatives of the presidency until 1974.

1957 - 1958

Army general. Chairman of the national front government.

1958 - 1962

National front president. Liberal.

1962 - 1966

National front president. Conservative.

1966 - 1970

National front president. Liberal.

1970 - 1974

National front president. Conservative.

1970s

Powerful drugs cartels emerge in the country towards the end of the decade and these develop during the following decade, most notably the Medellín Cartel.

Colombia became notorious in the late twentieth century for its long-running war against various rebel groups, this one being FARC, and its huge levels of drug trafficking

1974 - 1978

President of Colombia. Conservative.

1978 - 1982

President of Colombia. Liberal.

1982 - 1986

President of Colombia. Conservative.

1986 - 1990

President of Colombia. Liberal.

1990 - 1994

President of Colombia. Liberal.

1991

A new constitution is ratified after being drafted by Colombia's constituent assembly. Gaviria's presidency is noted for its reforms and an opening of the economy as he expands upon the policies of his immediate predecessor, Virgilio Barco.

1992 - 1993

While Pablo Escobar is held at the La Catedral prison he continues to control his drug empire and also murders several of his rivals inside the prison. Escobar escapes on 20 July 1992 after learning that he is about to be moved to a different prison. He is gunned down on 2 December 1993 in a notable good-news coup for the government.

1994 - 1998

President of Colombia. Liberal.

1998 - 2002

Son of Misael Pastrana. President of Colombia. Conservative.

1998 - 2002

The president, Andres Pastrana, attempts to negotiate a solution to the conflict between the state and the FARC guerrilla insurgency. Large swathes of land are demilitarised in return for peace, known as the 'Plan Colombia Initiative', although as drug cartels continue to launch attacks from the demilitarised zones, the plan's effectiveness is diminished.

Colombia's President Andres Pastrana followed in his father's footsteps - Misael Pastrana Borrero - who was president of Colombia in 1970-1974

2002 - 2010

President of Colombia. Liberal / independent.

2010 - 2018

President of Colombia. Social Party of National Unity (PSUN).

2016

Negotiators announce a final agreement to end the FARC conflict and build a lasting peace. President Santos and FARC commander-in-chief, Rodrigo Londoño (also known as Timoleón Jiménez or Timochenko), publicly sign the first peace accord on 24 August 2016.

The agreement is narrowly rejected during a national referendum on 2 October 2016. A revised peace agreement is signed on 24 November 2016. The government submits it to the country's congress instead of risking another referendum. Both houses of congress ratify it on 29-30 November, officially ending the conflict.

Fissures began to show in the ranks of Colombia's FARC rebels after five mid-level commanders were summarily expelled in 2016 from the group for refusing to demobilise and join a peace deal to end their fifty-two year-long war

2018 - 2022

President of Colombia. Democratic Centre Party.

2022 - On

President of Colombia.

2026

In an ongoing verbal barrage of vitriol, the USA's president accuses Petro of personally flooding American streets with illegal drugs and imposes sanctions against him and his wife. Initial threats of military action are followed by a phone conversation between the two leaders.