Hostess of San Carlos Palace

The Hostess of San Carlos Palace was the unofficial position held by the wives of the presidents in the now-defunct states of Gran Colombia, New Granada, the Granadine Confederation, and the United States of Colombia. This role is considered the precursor to the role of First Lady of Colombia, which was formalized in 1886 with the founding of Colombia. Although the president's spouse was neither elected nor received compensation, the Hostesses of San Carlos Palace played significant roles in Colombian society at that time.

For 89 years, twenty-one women, including the president's wives and partners, served as hostesses at the San Carlos Palace, a position derived from republican tradition and based solely on the prominence and influence of the individual. This role was the subject of debate on two occasions: first, when Manuela Sáenz, Simón Bolívar's partner, was accused of being the president's mistress while still married to Captain James Thorne; and second, when Soledad Román de Núñez was rejected by Bogotá's upper class because her husband, Rafael Núñez, remained married to his first wife, Dolores Gallegos.