José Domingo de Obaldía

José Domingo de Obaldía Gallegos (30 January 1845 – 1 March 1910) was President of Panama from October 1, 1908 to March 1, 1910.

José Domingo de Obaldía
2nd President of Panama
In office 1 October 1908 – 1 March 1910
Deputy	Presidential designates José Agustín Arango Carlos Antonio Mendoza Juan M. Lambert
Preceded by	Manuel Amador
Succeeded by	Carlos Antonio Mendoza
Personal details
Born	(1845-01-30)January 30, 1845 David, Republic of New Granada (now Panama)
Died	March 1, 1910(1910-03-01) (aged 65) Panama City, Panama
Political party	National Liberal
Spouse(s)	Manuela Jované Josefa Jované
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Jose Domingo de Obaldía Gallegos was the second President of the Republic of Panama from 1908 to 1910 and the first president elected by popular vote after the separation of Panama from Colombia.

Son of José de Obaldía and Ana Maria Gallegos. Born in David, Chiriquí on January 30, 1845. He died before finishing his term as President of the Republic of Panama on March 1, 1910. Known as a strategist and gentleman of politics, he was the last governor of the department of the Isthmus of Panama in 1903.

During the first government of the Republic, he was elected as the second presidential designate by the National Assembly for the term 1904-1906, and as the first presidential designate for the term 1906-1908.[1]

When José Domingo de Obaldía assumed the presidency in 1908, he began a policy of protecting the dignity of the Panamanian nation while respecting its interests in international relations with the United States. Additionally he reinforced the country's security with the implementation of Decree No. 18 of January 26, 1909, for the establishment of the National Secret Police. He also realized the creation of the correctional houses of Colón and Panama, and created the District of Santa Maria in the Chiriquí province. In the educational field, he executed the construction project of the National Institute of Panama, among others.