José María Melo

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José María Dionisio Melo y Ortiz
11th President of the Republic of the New Granada
In office April 17, 1854 – December 4, 1854
Preceded by	José María Obando
Succeeded by	Tomás de Herrera
Born	October 9, 1800 Chaparral, Tolima, Colombia
Died	June 1, 1860 La Trinitaria, Chiapas, Mexico
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Juliana Granados*
Religion	Roman Catholic
*Second wife

José María Dionisio Melo y Ortiz (October 9, 1800 – June 1, 1860) was a Colombian general and politician of Pijao ancestry, who fought in the South American wars of independence, and who in in 1854 rose to power and held the presidency of Colombia. In August, 1850, artisans demanded protection and the creation of a national workshop supported by the Government. General José María Melo assumed power in 1854 with the support of members of the Sociedad Democrática, a coalition of artisans and liberals who did not think that democracy and dictatorship were incompatible. But after Melo was militarily defeated that same year, soldiers and artisans were severely repressed. (Source: Lucía Sala de Touron, “Democracia en America Latina: liberales, radicales y artesanos a mediados del siglo XIX,” Secuencia 61(2005), 63.) José María Melo also served as general of cavalry in Mexico during the War of the Reform in 1860.