Presidents of Nicaragua

Fruto Chamorro

Apr 30, 1854

Fruto Chamorro was a Conservative president, that was in the presidency from April 30, 1854 - March 12, 1855.

Patricio Rivas

Oct 30, 1855

He was a Conservative provisional president, that was in the presidency from October 30, 1855 - June 24, 1857.

William Walker

Jul 12, 1856

William Walker was an American filibuster who wanted to annex Nicaragua to the United States but instead ending up becoming a tyrant, ruling over Nicaragua. He was an usurper, and he was in the presidency from July 12, 1856 - May 1, 1857.

Tomás Martínez

Nov 15, 1857

Tomás Martínez was a Conservative president that was in the presidency from November 15, 1857 - March 1, 1867.

Fernando Guzmán Solórzano

Mar 1, 1867

Fernando Guzmán Solórzano was a Conservative president that was in the presidency from March 1, 1867 - March 1, 1871.

José Vicente Cuadra

Mar 1, 1871

José Vicente Cuadra was a Conservative president that was in the presidency from March 1, 1871 - March 1, 1875.

Pedro Joaquín Chamorro

Mar 1, 1875

Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Alfaro was a Conservative president that was in the presidency from March 1, 1875 - March 1, 1879.

Joaquín Zavala

Mar 1, 1879

Joaquín Zavala was a Conservative president that was in the presidency from March 1, 1879 - March 1, 1883.

Adán Cárdenas

Mar 1, 1883

Adán Cárdenas was a Conservative president that was in the presidency from March 1, 1883 to March 1, 1887.

Evaristo Carazo

Mar 1, 1887

Evaristo Carazo was a Conservative president that was in the presidency from March 1, 1887 - August 1, 1889.

Roberto Sacasa

Aug 5, 1889

Roberto Sacasa was an acting Conservative president that was in the presidency from August 5, 1889 - January 1, 1991.

Roberto Sacasa

Mar 1, 1891

This time, Roberto Sacasa wasn't acting. He was an official Conservative president, and his presidency was from March 1, 1891 - July 11, 1893.

José Santos Zelaya

Jul 25, 1893

For the first time in decades, there is an official Liberal president in power. José Santos Zelaya was a Liberal president whose presidency lasted from July 25, 1893 - December 21, 1909.

José Madriz

Dec 21, 1909

José Madriz was a Liberal acting president after Zelaya's resignation. His presidency lasted from December 21, 1909 - August 20, 1910. The Nicaraguan department of Madriz is named after him.

Juan José Estrrada

Aug 30, 1910

Juan José Estrada was a provisional Conservative president whose presidency lasted from August 30, 1910 - May 9, 1911.

Adolfo Díaz

May 9, 1911

Adolfo Díaz was a Conservative president and his presidency lasted from May 9, 1911 - January 1, 1917.

Emiliano Chamorro Vargas

Jan 1, 1917

Emiliano Chamorro Vargas was a Conservative president whose presidency lasted from January 1, 1917 - January 1, 1921.

Diego Manuel Chamorro

Jan 1, 1921

Diego Manuel Chamorro was a Conservative president whose presidency lasted from January 1, 1921 - October 12, 1923.

Bartolomé Martínez

Oct 27, 1923

Bartolomé Martínez was a Conservative president whose presidency lasted from October 27, 1923 - January 1, 1925.

Carlos José Solórzano

Jan 1, 1925

Carlos José Solórzano was a Conservative president whose presidency lasted from January 1, 1925 - March 14, 1926.

Adolfo Díaz

Nov 14, 1926

This was Adolfo Díaz' second presidential term. His Conservative presidency lasted from November 14, 1926 - January 1, 1929.

José María Moncada

Jan 1, 1929

Finally, after many years of Conservative rule, a Liberal president came into power. José María Moncada Tapia was a Liberal president whose presidency lasted from January 1, 1929 - January 1, 1933.

Juan Bautista Sacasa

Jan 1, 1933

Juan Bautista Sacasa was a Liberal president whose presidency lasted from January 1, 1933 - June 9, 1936.

Carlos Alberto Brenes

Jun 9, 1936

Carlos Alberto Brenes was an acting Liberal president whose presidency lasted from June 9, 1936 - January 1, 1937.

Anastasio Somoza García

Jan 1, 1937

Anastasio Somoza García, the original patriarch of the Somoza family and dynasty, was a dictator and authoritarian president in Nicaragua. He was part of the PLN (Partido Liberal Nacionalista) and his presidency lasted from January 1, 1937 - May 1, 1947.

Victor Manuel Román

Aug 15, 1947

Victor Manuel Román y Reyes was a president belonging to the PLN party. whose presidency lasted from August 15, 1947 - May 6, 1950.

Anastasio Somoza García

May 7, 1950

This was Anastasio Somoza García's second presidential term and the true start of the Somoza dynasty. This PLN presidency lasted from May 7, 1950 - September 29, 1956.

Luis Somoza Debayle

Sep 29, 1956

This was Anastasio Somoza García's eldest son, who took his father's place as president (having already been in Congress, which gave him a greater opportunity to become president) after he was assassinated. Luis Somoza was also part of the PLN party and his presidency lasted from September 29, 1956 - May 1, 1963.

René Schick

May 1, 1963

René Schick was Luis Somoza's "puppet" president, who also belonged to the PLN party. His presidency lasted from May 1, 1963 - August 3, 1966.

Lorenzo Guerrero

Aug 4, 1966

Lorenzo Guerrero was a president belonging to the PLN party, whose presidency lasted from August 4, 1966 - May 1, 1967.

Anastasio "Tachito" Somoza

May 1, 1967

Anastasio Somoza Debayle, also known as "Tachito," was the youngest and most ambitious son of Anastasio Somoza. After his father and brother's death, he finally seized the opportunity to become president and gain all the power he wanted. He was part of the PLN party and was known for his cruel and strict ways, especially since he grew up in a military background. He would do anything to get what he wanted, including power. His presidency lasted from May 1, 1967- May 1, 1972.

Liberal-Conservative Junta

May 1, 1972

The Liberal and Conservative Junta was made up of various high-ranking officers. This group was really controlled by "Tachito" Somoza though, since he wanted to prevent anyone from getting his power. His term was ending, and "Tachito" couldn't have an immediate re-election. This ruling lasted from May 1, 1972 - December 1, 1974. It was Liberal, Conservative and with "Tachito's" influence, a bit part of PLN.

Anastasio "Tachito" Somoza

Dec 1, 1974

For the second time, the ambitious son of Somoza (belonging to the PLN) grabbed the presidency. This one lasted from December 1, 1974 - July 17, 1979.

Junta of National Reconstruction

Jul 18, 1979

This was a provisional government that belonged to the FSLN party. After the cruel Somozista tyranny, it was set up and founded by them, the Sandinistas, who later seized further political power. This ruling lasted from July 18, 1979 - January 10, 1985.

Daniel Ortega

Jan 10, 1985

Daniel Ortega served his first presidency from January 10, 1985 - April 25, 1990. He was part of the Sandinista party (the FSLN or Frente Sandinista Liberal Nacional) and was also a commander.

Violeta Chamorro

Apr 25, 1990

Violeta Chamorro was perhaps the only female president to ever rule in Nicaragua. She was part of the UNO (Unión Nacional Oppositora) party. This party's main rule was to oppose the main governmental party, as well as Daniel Ortega. Her presidency lasted from April 25, 1990 - January 10, 1997.

Arnoldo Alemán

Jan 10, 1997

Arnoldo Alemán was a president belonging to the PLC (Partido Liberal Constitucionalista) and who also founded this political party. He was in the presidency from January 10, 1997 - January 10, 2002.

Enrique Bolaños

Jan 10, 2002

Enrique Bolaños was a president belonging to the PLC (Partido Liberal Constitucionalista) party, whose presidency lasted from January 10, 2002 - January 10, 2007.

Daniel Ortega

Jan 10, 2007

Daniel Ortega, as stated before, is part of the Sandinista (FSLN) party. He received his second presidency during January 10, 2007 and is still in power until this very day as President of Nicaragua.