Alfonso López Pumarejo

Alfonso López Pumarejo
18th and 16th President of Colombia
In office
7 August 1942 – 7 August 1945
Preceded byEduardo Santos Montejo
Succeeded byAlberto Lleras Camargo
In office
7 August 1934 – 7 August 1938
Preceded byEnrique Olaya Herrera
Succeeded byEduardo Santos Montejo
7th Colombia Ambassador to the United Kingdom
In office
5 June 1959 – 20 November 1959
PresidentAlberto Lleras Camargo
Preceded byCarlos Alberto Sardi Garcés
Succeeded byVirgilio Barco Vargas
1st Colombia Ambassador to United Nations
In office
1946–1948
PresidentMariano Ospina Pérez
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byRoberto Urdaneta Arbeláez
Personal details
Born(1886-01-31)31 January 1886
Honda, Tolima, United States of Colombia
Died20 November 1959(1959-11-20) (aged 73)
London, England
PartyLiberal
Spouses
  • (m. 1911; died 1949)
  • Olga Dávila Alzamora
    (m. 1953)
Children
Parents
RelativesLópez family
Alma materLondon School of Economics
Occupation

Alfonso López Pumarejo (31 January 1886 – 20 November 1959) was a Colombian journalist, economist, politician, and diplomat who served as the 16th and 18th president of Colombia, serving from 1934 to 1938 and from 1942 to 1945. He is the second Colombian president to serve two non-consecutive terms and the second Colombian president to resign from office after Rafael Núñez in 1888.

Born in Honda, Tolima, López is a prominent leader of the Liberal Party in Tolima. During his first presidency, he spearheaded the "Revolution in March," which promoted state modernization, social justice, and constitutional reform. He also championed secular education, free from state and church interference.