List of Governors and Presidents of Honduras

The President of Honduras is the head of state and government of the nation, he is officially identified as the Constitutional President of the Republic of Honduras in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 Honduran Constitution.

Table of Content

First woman and current President of Honduras

Honduras made history and elected its first woman President, Mrs. Xiomara Castro (see biography) on November 28, 2021 to govern the destinies of the nation for the period 2022-2026. She is a founding member of the Libertad y Refundación (Libre) Party, and the wife of President Mel Zelaya.

The first Presidents of Honduras

Dionisio de Herrera, became in 1824 the First Supreme Chief of State (title with which they were named at that time) of Honduras.
Francisco Ferrera, was elected the First Constitutional President on January 1, 1841.
Roberto Suazo Córdova, was the First President of the Democratic Era of Honduras from 1982.
Xiomara Castro, was elected as the first woman to occupy the Presidency of Honduras , elected by popular vote.

Heads of State period from 1824 to 1839

1.- Dionisio de Herrera
– Start: September 16, 1824 – End: May 10, 1827
– Party: Liberal

2.- Justo Milla
– Start: May 10, 1827 – End: November 11, 1827
– Party: Conservative

3.- Anacleto Bendaña «Cleto»
– Start: November 11, 1827 – End: September 30, 1827
– Party: Liberal

4.- Miguel Eusebio Bustamante
– Start: September 30, 1827 – End: October 30, 1827
– Party: Liberal

5.- José Jerónimo Zelaya Fiallos
– Start: October 30, 1827 – End: November 27, 1827
– Party: Liberal

6.- Francisco Morazán
– Start: November 27, 1827 – End: March 7, 1829
– Start: December 2, 1829 – End: July 28, 1830
– Party: Liberal

7.- Diego Vigil
– Start: March 7, 1829 – End: December 2, 1829
– Party: Liberal

8.- José Santos Díaz del Valle
– Start: July 28, 1830 – End: March 12, 1831
– Party: Conservative

9.- José Antonio Márquez
– Start: March 12, 1831 – End: March 26, 1832
– Party: Conservative

10.- José Francisco Milla Guevara
– Start: March 26, 1832 – End: January 7, 1833
– Party: Conservative

11.- Joaquín Rivera Bragas
– Start: January 7, 1833 – End: December 31, 1836
– Party: Independent

12.- José María Martínez Salinas
– Start: January 1, 1837 – End: May 28, 1837
– Start: September 3, 1838 – End: November 12, 1838
– Party: Independent

13.- Justo Vicente José de Herrera y Díaz del Valle
– Start: May 28, 1837 – End: October 3, 1838
– Party: Conservative

14.- José Lino Matute
– Start: November 12, 1838 – End: January 10, 1839
– Party: Conservative

15.- Juan Francisco de Molina
– Start: January 9, 1839 – End: April 12, 1839
– Party: Liberal

Presidents of the 19th century period from 1839 to 1889

1.- José Francisco Zelaya y Ayes
– Start: September 21, 1839 – End: January 1, 1841
– Party: Liberal

2.- Francisco Ferrera
– Start: January 1, 1841 – End: December 31, 1842
– Start: February 23, 1843 – End: December 31, 1844
– Party: Conservative

3.- Provisional Government – Council of Ministers
– Start: January 1, 1843 – End: January 8, 1845
– Party: Conservative/Liberal

4.- Coronado Chávez
– Start: January 8, 1845 – End: January 1, 1847
– Party: Conservative

5.- Juan Lindo
– Start: February 12, 1847 – End: February 1, 1852
– Party: Conservative

6.- José Trinidad Cabañas
– Start: March 1, 1852 – End: October 18, 1855
– Party: Liberal

7.- José Santiago Bueso Soto
– Start: October 18, 1855 – End: November 8, 1855
– Party: Liberal

8.- Francisco de Aguilar
– Start: November 8, 1855 – End: February 17, 1856
– Party: Liberal

9.- José Santos Guardiola
– Start: February 17, 1856 – End: January 11, 1862
– Party: Conservative

10.- José Francisco Montes Fonseca
– Start: January 11, 1862 – End: February 4, 1862
– Start: December 11, 1862 – End: September 7, 1863
– Party: Conservative

11.- Victoriano Castellanos Cortés
– Start: February 4, 1862 – End: December 11, 1862
– Party: Conservative

12.- José María Medina
– Start: September 7, 1863 – End: December 31, 1863
– Start: September 29, 1865 – End: February 1866
– Start: March 15, 1864 – End: July 26, 1872
– Start: December 16, 1875 – End: June 8, 1876
– Start: August 12, 1876- End: August 27, 1876
– Party: Conservative

13.- Francisco Inestroza
– Start: December 31, 1863 – End: March 15, 1864
– Party: Conservative

14.- Florencio Xatruch
– Start: March 26, 1871 – End: May 17, 1871
– Military

15.- Carlos Céleo Arias López
– Start: July 26, 1872 – End: January 13, 1874
– Party: Liberal

16.- Ponciano Leiva Madrid
– Start: January 13, 1874 – End: June 8, 1876
– Start: November 30, 1891 – End: August 7, 1893
– Party: Conservative

17.- Provisional Government – Council of Ministers
– Start: June 8, 1876 – End: August 12, 1876
– Party: Conservative/Liberal

18.- Marco Aurelio Soto
– Start: August 27, 1876 – End: October 19, 1883
– Party: Liberal

19.- Provisional Government – Council of Ministers
– Start: October 19, 1883 – End: November 30, 1883
– Party: Conservative/Liberal

20.- Luis Bográn Barahona
– Start: November 30, 1883 – End: November 30, 1891
– Party: Liberal

21.- Ponciano Leiva Madrid
– Start: January 13, 1874 – End: June 8, 1876
– Start: November 30, 1891 – End: August 7, 1893
– Party: Conservative

22.- Domingo Vásquez
– Start: August 7, 1893 – End: February 22, 1894
– Party: Conservative

23.- Policarpo Bonilla
– Start: February 22, 1894 – End: February 1, 1899
– Party: Liberal

Presidents of the 20th century from 1899 to 1982

1.- Terencio Sierra
– Start: February 1, 1899 – End: February 1, 1903
– Party: Liberal

2.- Manuel Bonilla
– Start: April 13, 1903 – End: February 25, 1907
– Start: February 1, 1912 – End: March 21, 1913
– Party: Conservative

3.- Miguel Rafael Dávila Cuéllar
– Start: April 18, 1907 – End: March 28, 1911
– Party: Liberal

4.- Francisco Bertrand Barahona
– Start: March 28, 1911 – End: February 1, 1912
– Start: March 21, 1913 – End: July 28, 1915
– Start: February 1, 1915 – End: September 9, 1919
– Party: Conservative

5.- Alberto de Jesús Membreño
– Start: July 28, 1915 – End: February 1, 1916
– Party: Conservative

6.- Vicente Mejía Colindres
– Start: September 16, 1919 – End: October 5, 1919
– Start: February 1, 1929 – End: February 1, 1933
– Party: Liberal

7.- Francisco Bográn Barahona
– Start: October 5, 1919 – End: February 1, 1920
– Party: Liberal

8.- Rafael López Gutiérrez
– Start: February 1, 1920 – End: March 10, 1924
– Party: Liberal

9.- Provisional Government – Council of Ministers
Ministers Francisco Bueso Cuéllar y Fausto Dávila
– Start: March 10, 1924 – End: April 30, 1924
– Party: Liberal

10.- Vicente Tosta Carrasco
– Start: April 30, 1924 – End: February 1, 1925
– Party: Liberal

11.- Miguel Paz Barahona
– Start: February 1, 1925 – End: February 1, 1929
– Party: National

12.- Tiburcio Carías Andino
– Start: February 1, 1933 – End: January 1, 1949
– Party: National

13.- Juan Manuel Gálvez
– Start: January 1, 1949 – End: December 5, 1954
– Party: National

14.- Julio Lozano Díaz
– Start: December 5, 1954 – End: October 21, 1956
– Party: National

15.- Military Board of Honduras
– Start: October 21, 1956 – End: December 21, 1957
– Military triumvirate

16.- Ramón Villeda Morales
– Start: December 21, 1957 – End: October 3, 1963
– Party: Liberal

17.- Oswaldo López Arellano
– Start: October 3, 1963 – End: June 6, 1971
– Start: December 4, 1972 – End: April 22, 1975
– Military

18.- Ramón Ernesto Cruz Uclés
– Start: June 6, 1971 – End: December 4, 1972
– Party: National

19.- Juan Alberto Melgar Castro
– Start: April 22, 1975 – End: August 7, 1978
– Military

20.- Policarpo Paz García
– Start: August 7, 1978 – End: January 27, 1982
– Military

Presidents period 1982 to 2001 (Democratic Era – Constitution of 1982)

1.- Roberto Suazo Córdova
– Start: January 27, 1982 – End: January 27, 1986
– Party: Liberal

2.- José Simón Azcona del Hoyo
– Start: January 27, 1986 – End: January 27, 1990
– Party: Liberal

3.- Rafael Leonardo Callejas
– Start: January 27, 1990 – End: January 27, 1994
– Party: National

4.- Carlos Roberto Reina
– Start: January 27, 1994 – End: January 27, 1998
– Party: Liberal

5.- Carlos Flores Facussé
– Start: January 27, 1998 – End: January 27, 2002
– Party: Liberal

Presidents of Honduras in the XXI century period from 2002 to 2022

1.- Ricardo Maduro Joest
– Start: January 27, 2002 – End: January 27, 2006
– Party: National

2.- José Manuel Zelaya Rosales
– Start: January 27, 2006 – End: June 28, 2009
– Party: Liberal

3.- Roberto Micheletti Bain
– Start: June 29, 2009 – End: January 26, 2010
– Party: Liberal/Military

4.- Porfirio Lobo Sosa
– Start: January 27, 2010 – End: January 27, 2014
– Party: National

5.- Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado
– Start: January 27, 2014 – End: January 27, 2018
– Start: January 27, 2018 – End: January 27, 2022
– Party: National

6.- Iris Xiomara Castro
– Start: January 27, 2022 – End: January 27, 2026
– Party: Libre

De facto Governors

Eleven presidents have come to power through coups; one of them, Oswaldo López Arellano, twice. Two military junta have also exercised de facto mandates, one in 1907 and another in 1956. When the same de facto ruler called for elections and was elected, it was said that he “made legitimate” his mandate;12 such was the case of :

José María Medina with the elections of 1864.
Ponciano Leiva Madrid, with a plebiscite in 1874.
Policarpo Bonilla in the 1894 elections
Manuel Bonilla, who summoned Congress to declare him the winner of the 1902 elections
Oswaldo López Arellano with the Constituent Assembly of 1965.

Three were deposed by another coup: Céleo Arias, Oswaldo López Arellano and Juan Alberto Melgar. Two handed over the presidency: Juan Francisco López and Rafael López Gutiérrez. And two held democratic elections: Policarpo Paz García (1981 elections) and Roberto Micheletti (2009 elections).

Reelected

Honduras has had 10 re-elected constitutional presidents:

6 through democratic elections:

Juan Lindo : elections of 1848.
José Santos Guardiola : elections of 1860.
José María Medina : elections of 1865.
Marco Aurelio Soto : 1881 elections.
Luis Bográn Barahona : elections of 1887.
Juan Orlando Hernández : 2017 elections.

1 by decree: Francisco Ferrera in 1843.

1 by plebiscite: José María Medina in 1870.

2 for the election of a National Constituent Assembly: Manuel Bonilla in 1906 and Tiburcio Carías Andino in 1937.

Unfinished Periods

16 presidents did not complete their term(s) of constitutional mandate

9 for coup

José Trinidad Cabañas- Liberal – May 9, 1853 – February 10, 1856
Victoriano Castellanos – liberal – June 26, 1863 – February 5, 1864
José María Medina – curator – May 12, 1872 – February 1, 1874
Domingo Vásquez Toruño – curator – February 22, 1894 – September 15, 1897
Juan Ángel Arias – liberal – April 13, 1903 – February 18, 1907
Manuel Bonilla Chirinos – National Party – March 25, 1907 – January 1, 1912
Ramón Villeda Morales – Liberal Party – October 3, 1963 – December 21, 1963
Ramón Ernesto Cruz – National Party – December 3, 1972 – June 6, 1977
José Manuel Zelaya – Liberal Party – June 28, 2009 – January 27, 2010

5 for resignation —two of them on two occasions:

Ponciano Leiva Madrid: June 8, 1876 due to political pressure; his period would end on February 1, 1879. Leiva was president again and resigned on August 7, 1893 due to internal conflicts. This period would end on November 30, 1895.
Marco Aurelio Soto: on August 27, 1883, alleging health reasons. His term would end on February 1, 1885.

Miguel R. Dávila: on March 28, 1911, due to political pressure. His term would end on March 1, 1912.
Francisco Bertrand Barahona: on July 28, 1915, when he was acting President in charge, in order to participate as a presidential candidate. After being elected, he resigned on September 9, 1919, due to internal conflicts resulting from his attempts to suppress the opposition. His term would end on February 1, 1920.
Juan Manuel Gálvez: on November 16, 1954, for health reasons. His term would end on January 1, 1955.

1 by natural death: Manuel Bonilla Chirinos, on March 21, 1913; his term would end on February 1, 1912.

1 for assassination: José Santos Guardiola Bustillo, assassinated on January 11, 1862 in the Presidential House.

Self proclaimed

In the second decade of the 19th century, politics in the newly declared Republic of Honduras was very turbulent. During that time, four people declared themselves presidents, none of whom became president.

José María Medina: December 16, 1875, supported by the president of Guatemala Justo Rufino Barrios, and in rebellion against the constitutional government of Ponciano Leiva that began in February of that same year.
Lieutenant Colonel Salvador Cruz: August 27, 1876, in the capital, at that time in Comayagua, and parallel to the inauguration of the government of Marco Aurelio Soto in Amapala. Once the proclamation of the Presidential Administration of Soto reached his ears, he declined in his intentions.
General Longino Sánchez, then commander of the Honduran Army: November 8, 1890, at the San Francisco Barracks. He ignored the presidency of General Luis Bográn Barahona, took up arms against the government and ordered a state of siege in the country. President Bográn ordered the besieged capital to be attacked until the coup attempt was over.
Enrique Soto —family member of Marco Aurelio Soto—: April 13, 1897, proclaimed by Liberal troops dissatisfied with the presidency of Policarpo Bonilla, who carried out several occupations. His revolt was crushed by General Terencio Sierra.

Dictators

4 dictators are named in the history of the nation:

Manuel Bonilla Chirinos (1904-1906),
Rafael Lopez Gutierrez (1924),
Tiburcio Carías Andino (1939-1949)
Julio Lozano Diaz (1954-1956).

Bibliography

Colindres O., Ramiro. Basic Encyclopedia of Honduras. First edition, Graficentro Editores, 2011. ISBN: 978-9926-0-465-6
Governors of Honduras. (nd). Wikipedia. Retrieved from: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anexo:Gobernantes_de_Honduras