Panama
 

to 28 Nov 1821               28 Nov 1821 - 18 Nov 1840;           31 Dec 1841 -  3 Nov 1903               18 Nov 1840 - 31 Dec 1841                  3 Nov 1903 - 20 Dec 1903                     Adopted 20 Dec 1903           (officially adopted 4 Jun 1904)       Map of Panama Hear National Anthem "Himno Istemño" (Isthmus Hymn) Text of National Anthem Adopted 1925 Constitution  (11 Oct 1972; in Spanish) Capital: Panama City (Ciudad de Panama) (Darien 1510-1521) Currencies: Balboa (PAB); U.S. Dollar (USD)  National Holiday: 3 Nov (1903) Independence Day Population: 3,309,679 (2008) GDP: $38.49 billion (2008) Exports:  $10.3 billion (2008) Imports:  $15.1 billion (2008) Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 58.1%, black and mulatto 14%, Amerindian 6.7%, white 8.6%, Asian 5.5%, other 7.1% (2000) Total Public Security Forces: 11,800 (2002) (military abolished since 19 Feb 1990) Merchant marine: 6,323 ships (2008) Religions: Roman Catholic 70.6%, Protestant 14%, Muslim 4.4%, Baha'i 1.2%, Buddhist 0.8%, traditional  beliefs 0.7%, nonreligious 2.5%, other 5.8% (2000) International Organizations/Treaties: ACS, APM, BCIE (nonregional), BTWC, CAN (observer), CAP, CTBT, ENMOD, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, KP, LAES, LAIA (observer), LAP, LU, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SEGIB, SICA, UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Panama Index Chronology Mar 1501                   Discovered by Rodrigo de Bastidas.  5 Oct 1502                Discovered by Columbus and claimed for Spain. 1508                       Spanish settlement at Darien. 1510                       Spanish colony, Santa María de la Antigua del                              Darien founded. 1513                       Province of Castilla de Oro (part of Spanish                              colony of Peru)(see under Colombian states). 29 Sep 1513                Isthmus crossed by Vasco Nuñez de Balboa. 15 Aug 1519                Panama city founded.  3 Nov 1698 - 11 Sep 1700  Scottish colony at Darien. 20 Aug 1739                Panama subjected to Viceroyalty of New Granada                               (see Colombia). 20 Jul 1812 - 1816         Remains loyal to Spain during Colombian                               independence revolt. 28 Nov 1821                Independence from Spain, part of New Granada                              (see Colombia). 18 Nov 1840                State of Panama (secession from Colombia). 20 Mar 1841                State of the Isthmus (Estado del Istmo). 31 Dec 1841                Re-incorporation into Colombia. 27 Feb 1855 - 5 Aug 1886   Provinces of New Granada (including Panama)                               organized as sovereign states, but remaining                              part of New Granada (see Colombian states). 20 Nov 1901 -  4 Dec 1901  U.S. intervention. 17 Sep 1902 - 18 Nov 1902  U.S. intervention.  3 Nov 1903                Independence from Colombia (Republic of Panama).  4 Nov 1903 - 21 Jan 1914  U.S. occupation.  4 Nov 1903 - 1939         U.S. protectorate 18 Nov 1903 - 30 Sep 1979  Panama Canal Zone under U.S. administration. 20 Dec 1989 - 31 Jan 1990  U.S. occupation. Panama to 1903 Canal Zone (1903-1979) New Caledonia (1698-1700)

De facto rulers
11 Oct 1968 - 31 Jul 1981  Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera       (b. 1929 - d. 1981) Mil; 1978
                            (commander National Guard)                            PRD 
 3 Mar 1982 - 12 Aug 1983  Rubén Darío Paredes del Río        (b. 1933)           Mil
                            (commander National Guard)
12 Aug 1983 - 20 Dec 1989  Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno      (b. 1936)           Mil
                            (commander National Guard [from 29 Sep 1983
                             Panama Defense Forces])

Superior Civil Chief
18 Nov 1840 - 20 Mar 1841  Tomás José Ramón del Carmen de     (b. 1804 - d. 1854)
                             Herrera y Pérez Dávila 
Superior Chief of State 
20 Mar 1841 -  8 Jun 1841  Tomás José Ramón del Carmen de     (s.a.)
                             Herrera y Pérez Dávila 
President
 8 Jun 1841 - 31 Dec 1841  Tomás José Ramón del Carmen de     (s.a.)
                             Herrera y Pérez Dávila 
President of the Municipal Council of the District of Panama
 3 Nov 1903 -  4 Nov 1903  Demetrio Honorato Brid Lasso       (b. 1859 - d. 1917)  PC
Chairman of the Provisional Government Junta
 4 Nov 1903 - 20 Feb 1904  José Agustín Arango Remón          (b. 1841 - d. 1909)  PC
Presidents
20 Feb 1904 -  1 Oct 1908  Manuel Amador Guerrero             (b. 1833 - d. 1909)  PC
 1 Oct 1908 -  1 Mar 1910  José Domingo de Obaldía Gallegos   (b. 1845 - d. 1910)  PC
 1 Mar 1910 -  1 Oct 1910  Carlos Antonio Mendoza Soto        (b. 1858 - d. 1916)  PL
                             (acting)
 1 Oct 1910 -  5 Oct 1910  Federico Augusto Boyd López        (b. 1851 - d. 1924)  PL
                             (acting)
 5 Oct 1910 -  1 Oct 1912  Pablo Arosemena Alba (acting)      (b. 1836 - d. 1920)  PL
 1 Oct 1912 -  1 Oct 1916  Belisario Porras Barahona          (b. 1856 - d. 1942)  PL
                             (1st time)
 1 Oct 1916 -  3 Jun 1918  Ramón Maximiliano de la Concepción (b. 1867 - d. 1918)  PL
                             Valdés Arce     
 3 Jun 1918 -  1 Oct 1918  Ciro Luis Urriola Garrés (acting)  (b. 1863 - d. 1922)  PL
 1 Oct 1918 - 12 Oct 1918  Pedro Antonio Díaz de Obaldía      (b. 1847 - d. 1919)  PC
                             (acting)
12 Oct 1918 - 30 Jan 1920  Belisario Porras Barahona          (s.a.)               PL
                             (2nd time) 
30 Jan 1920 -  1 Oct 1920  Ernesto Tisdel Lefevre de la Ossa  (b. 1876 - d. 1922)  PL
                             (acting) 
 1 Oct 1920 -  1 Oct 1924  Belisario Porras Barahona          (s.a.)               PL
                             (3rd time)
 1 Oct 1924 -  1 Oct 1928  Rodolfo E. Chiari Robles           (b. 1869 - d. 1937)  PL
 1 Oct 1928 -  2 Jan 1931  Florencio Harmodio Arosemena       (b. 1872 - d. 1945)  PL
                             Guillén
 2 Jan 1931 - 16 Jan 1931  Harmodio Arias Madrid (1st time)   (b. 1886 - d. 1962)  PLD
                             (acting for Ricardo Jované)
16 Jan 1931 -  1 Oct 1932  Ricardo Joaquín Alfaro Jované      (b. 1882 - d. 1971)  PL
                             (acting) 
 1 Oct 1932 -  1 Oct 1936  Harmodio Arias Madrid (2nd time)   (s.a.)               PLD
 1 Oct 1936 - 16 Dec 1939  Juan Demóstenes Arosemena Barreati (b. 1879 - d. 1939)  PLN
16 Dec 1939 - 18 Dec 1939  Ezequiel Fernández Jaén (acting)   (b. 1886 - d. 1946)  PNR
18 Dec 1939 -  1 Oct 1940  Augusto Samuel Boyd Briceño        (b. 1879 - d. 1957)  PNR
                             (acting)
 1 Oct 1940 -  9 Oct 1941  Arnulfo Arias Madrid (1st time)    (b. 1901 - d. 1988)  PNR
 9 Oct 1941  (hours)       Ernesto Jaén Guardia (acting)      (b. 1895 - d. 1961)  Non-party
 9 Oct 1941 - 15 Jun 1945  Ricardo Adolfo de la Guardia       (b. 1899 - d. 1969)  Non-party
                             Arango (acting to 21 Oct 1941)
15 Feb 1945 - 15 Jun 1945  Jeptha Brawner Duncan Guillén-     (b. 1885 - d. 1977)  PL
                             Arosemena (acting, in dissidence)
15 Jun 1945 -  1 Oct 1948  Enrique Adolfo Jiménez Brin        (b. 1888 - d. 1970)  PL
                             (provisional)
12 Jul 1948 - 13 Jul 1948  Henrique de Obarrio Vallarino      (b. 1898 - d. 1978)  Non-party
                             (provisional, in dissidence)
 1 Oct 1948 - 23 Aug 1949  Domingo Díaz Arosemena             (b. 1875 - d. 1949)  PL
28 Jul 1949 - 24 Nov 1949¹ Daniel Chanis Pinzón               (b. 1891 - d. 1961)  PL
                             (acting for Díaz Arosemena to 23 Aug 1949)
20 Nov 1949 - 25 Nov 1949¹ Roberto Francisco Chiari Remón     (b. 1905 - d. 1981)  PLN
                             (acting for Pinzón)  
25 Nov 1949 - 25 May 1951  Arnulfo Arias Madrid (2nd time)    (s.a.)               PRA
                             (suspended from 9 May 1955)
 9 May 1951 -  1 Oct 1952  Alcibíades Arosemena Quinzada      (b. 1883 - d. 1958)  PRA
                             (acting for Arnulfo Arias to 25 May 1951)
 1 Oct 1952 -  2 Jan 1955  José Antonio Remón Cantera         (b. 1908 - d. 1955)  CNP
 2 Jan 1955 - 29 Mar 1955  José Ramón Guizado Valdés          (b. 1899 - d. 1964)  CNP
                             (suspended from 15 Jan 1955)
15 Jan 1955 -  1 Oct 1956  Ricardo Manuel Arias Espinosa      (b. 1912 - d. 1993)  CNP
                             (acting for Valdés to 29 Mar 1955)
 1 Oct 1956 -  1 Oct 1960  Ernesto de la Guardia Navarro      (b. 1904 - d. 1983)  CNP
 1 Oct 1960 -  1 Oct 1964  Roberto Francisco Chiari Remón     (s.a.)               PLN
 1 Oct 1964 -  1 Oct 1968  Marco Aurelio Robles Méndez        (b. 1905 - d. 1990)  PLN
24 Mar 1968 -  5 Apr 1968  Max Delvalle Levy-Maduro           (b. 1911 - d. 1979)
                             (in dissidence)
 1 Oct 1968 - 12 Oct 1968  Arnulfo Arias Madrid (3rd time)    (s.a.)               PP
12 Oct 1968 - 19 Dec 1969  José M. Pinilla Fábrega            (b. 1919 - d. 1979)  Mil
                             (chairman Provisional Junta)
19 Dec 1969 - 11 Oct 1978  Demetrio Basilio Lakas Bahas       (b. 1925 - d. 1999)  Non-party
                             (chairman Provisional Junta to 11 Oct 1972) 
11 Oct 1978 - 31 Jul 1982  Aristides Royo Sánchez             (b. 1940)            Non-party
31 Jul 1982 - 13 Feb 1984  Ricardo de la Espriella Toral      (b. 1934)            Non-party
13 Feb 1984 - 11 Oct 1984  Jorge Enrique Illueca Sibauste     (b. 1918)            Non-party
11 Oct 1984 - 28 Sep 1985  Nicolás Ardito Barletta Vallarino  (b. 1938)            PRD
28 Sep 1985 - 26 Feb 1988  Eric Arturo Delvalle Cohen-        (b. 1937)            PR
                             Henríquez   
                             (continues in dissidence to 1 Sep 1989)
26 Feb 1988 -  1 Sep 1989  Manuel Solís Palma (acting)        (b. 1917 - d. 2009)  PRD
 1 Sep 1989 - 20 Dec 1989  Francisco Antonio Rodríguez Poveda (b. 1938)            PRD
                             (provisional) 
20 Dec 1989 -  1 Sep 1994  Guillermo David Endara Galimany    (b. 1936 - d. 2009)  PPA/PA 
 1 Sep 1994 -  1 Sep 1999  Ernesto Pérez Balladares González  (b. 1946)            PRD
                             Revilla 
 1 Sep 1999 -  1 Sep 2004  Mireya Elisa Moscoso Rodríguez (f) (b. 1946)            PA
 1 Sep 2004 -  1 Jul 2009  Martín Erasto Torrijos Espino      (b. 1963)            PRD
 1 Jul 2009 -              Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal        (b. 1952)            CD

Chiefs of Government
11 Oct 1972 - 11 Oct 1978  Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera       (s.a.)               Mil; 
                            (formally Supreme Leader of the Panamanian Revolution) 1978 PRD
15 Dec 1989 - 20 Dec 1989  Manuel Antonio Noriega Morena      (s.a.)               Mil

U.S. Military Commander
20 Dec 1989 - 31 Jan 1990  Carl Stiner                        (b. 1936)

 ¹By a dubious intepretation of Art. 148 of the 1946 constitution dealing with presidential resignations, the Supreme Court of Justice "conditionally" accepted on 20 Nov 1949 President Chanis's resignation and swore in Roberto Francisco Chiari Remón (s.a.), his constitutional successor; when the National Assembly reconvened on 21 Nov 1949, Chanis "withdrew" his resignation, declaring that it was coerced, and the Assembly, the body entitled to deal with resignations of the head of state, on 22 Nov 1949 rejected it. The Supreme Court of Justice on 24 Nov 1949 agreed that Chanis indeed continued to hold office.

Party abbreviations: CD = Cambio Democrático (Democratic Change, conservative); PA = Partido Arnulfista (Arnulfist Party, conservative); PLA = Partido Liberal Auténtico (Authentic Liberal Party, liberal); PR = Partido Republicano (Republican Party); PRD = Partido Revolucionario Democrático (Revolutionary Democratic Party, populist); Mil = Military;
- Former Parties: CNP = Coalición Nacional Patriótica (National Patriotic Coalition, government party); PC = Partido Conservador (Conservative Party); PL = Partido Liberal (Liberal Party); PLD = Partido Liberal Doctrinario (Doctrinary Liberal Party); PLN = Partido Liberal Nacional (National Liberal Party); PNR = Partido Nacional Revolucionario (National Revolutionary Party, authoritarian, anti-oligarchy, anti-U.S.); PP = Partido Panameñista (Panamenista Party, Arnulfo Arias personalist); PPA = Partido Panameñista Auténtico (Authentic Panamenista Party, renamed PA); PRA = Partido Revolucionario Auténtico (Authentic Revolutionary Party)

         3 Nov 1698 - 24 Apr 1700

Governors
 3 Nov 1698 - 20 Jun 1699  Sir William Paterson               (b. 1658 - d. 1719)
20 Jun 1699 - 30 Nov 1699  Abandoned
30 Nov 1699 - 11 Apr 1700  Alexander Campbell of Fonab        (b. c.1660 - d. 1724)

10 Jan 1880 -  4 Feb 1889  Ferdinand de Lesseps attemps excavation of a Panama canal.
18 Nov 1903                Panama Canal Zone leased to the U.S. (not including the cities of
                             Colón or Panama)(ratified 25 Feb 1904).
14 May 1904                Administered by the Panama Canal Company (U.S. War [from 1947
                             Defense] Department was the majority shareholder).
14 Aug 1914                Panama Canal opens.
30 Sep 1979                U.S. returns Canal Zone to Panama, but continues operation of 
                             the Canal administered by the Panama Canal Commission.
31 Dec 1999                U.S. turns over operation of the Panama Canal to Panama,
                             administered by the Canal Authority.

Military Governors
14 May 1904 - 24 May 1905  George Whitefield Davis            (b. 1839 - d. 1918)  Non-party
25 May 1905 - 12 Oct 1906  Charles Edward Magoon              (b. 1861 - d. 1920)  Non-party
19 Nov 1906 - 31 Mar 1907  Richard Reid Rogers                (b. 1868 - d. 1949)  Non-party
                             (General Counsel of the Isthmian Canal Commission)
 1 Apr 1907 -  4 Dec 1909  Joseph Clay Styles Blackburn       (b. 1838 - d. 1918)  Non-party
13 May 1910 -  8 Aug 1913  Maurice Hudson Thatcher            (b. 1870 - d. 1973)  Non-party
 9 Aug 1913 - 31 Mar 1914  Richard Lee Metcalfe               (b. 1861 - d. 1954)  Non-party
Civil Governors
 1 Apr 1914 - 10 Jan 1917  George Washington Goethals         (b. 1858 - d. 1928)  Non-party
11 Jan 1917 - 27 Mar 1921  Chester Harding                    (b. 1866 - d. 1936)  Non-party
28 Mar 1921 - 15 Oct 1924  Jay Johnson Morrow                 (b. 1870 - d. 1937)  Non-party
16 Oct 1924 - 15 Oct 1928  Meriwether Lewis Walker            (b. 1869 - d. 1947)  Non-party
16 Oct 1928 - 20 Oct 1932  Harry Burgess                      (b. 1872 - d. 1933)  Non-party 
21 Oct 1932 - 26 Aug 1936  Julian Larcombe Schley             (b. 1880 - d. 1965)  Non-party
27 Aug 1936 - 10 Jul 1940  Clarence Eugene Ridley             (b. 1883 - d. 1969)  Non-party
11 Jul 1940 - 15 May 1944  Glen Edgar Egerton                 (b. 1887 - d. 1956)  Non-party
16 May 1944 - 19 May 1948  Joseph Cowles Mehaffey             (b. 1889 - d. 1963)  Non-party
20 May 1948 - 26 May 1952  Francis Cosler Newcomer            (b. 1889 - d. 1967)  Non-party
27 May 1952 - 27 May 1956  John States Seybold                (b. 1897 - d. 1984)  Non-party
28 May 1956 - 30 Jun 1960  William Everett Potter             (b. 1905 - d. 1988)  Non-party
 1 Jul 1960 - 31 Jan 1962  William Arnold Carter              (b. 1907 - d. 1996)  Non-party
 1 Feb 1962 - 31 Jan 1967  Robert John Fleming                (b. 1907 - d. 1984)  Non-party
21 Feb 1967 -  2 Mar 1971  Walter Philip Leber                (b. 1918 - d. 2009)  Non-party
 3 Mar 1971 - 25 Mar 1975  David Stuart Parker                (b. 1919 - d. 1990)  Non-party
26 Mar 1975 - 30 Sep 1979  Harold R. Parfitt                  (b. 1921 - d. 2006)  Non-party
Administrators of the Panama Canal Commission¹
 1 Oct 1979 - 31 Dec 1989  Dennis P. McAuliffe (U.S.)         (b. 1922)
 1 Jan 1990 - 19 Sep 1990²  Fernando Manfredo, Jr. (Panama)    (b. 1934)
                             (acting)
20 Sep 1990 - 17 Aug 1996  Gilberto Guardia Fabrega           (b. 1930)
                             (Panama)
18 Aug 1996 - 31 Dec 1999  Alberto Alemán Zubieta             (b. 1951)
                             (Panama)
- Deputy Administrators -
 1 Oct 1979 -  1 Jan 1990  Fernando Manfredo, Jr.             (s.a.)
                             (Panama)
 1 Jan 1990 - 17 Aug 1996  Raymond Philip Laverty (U.S.)      (b. 1932)
                             (interim to 20 Sep 1990)
18 Aug 1996 - 31 Dec 1999  Joseph W. Cornelison (U.S.)        (b. 1948?)

 ¹The Panama Canal Treaty mandated that "the U.S. shall employ a national of the U.S. as Administrator of the Panama Canal Commission, and a Panamanian nation as deputy administrator, through 31 Dec 1989. Beginning 1 Jan 1990, a Panamanian national shall be employed as the administrator and a national of the U.S. shall occupy the position of deputy administrator."

 ²Manfredo accepted the request of President George H.W. Bush to serve as acting administrator of the commission until such time as a Panamanian administrator proposed by a legitimate Panamanian government might be appointed by the U.S.