José Fructuoso Rivera (1789? in Paysandú – 1854) was an Uruguayan general and patriot who helped force the Brazilians out of the Banda Oriental . He founded the Colorado political tradition, and served as the first President of Uruguay from 6 November 1830 to 24 October 1834. His brilliance as a military figure is widely recognized, though his presidencies (1830-1834 and 1839-1843) were characterized by ineptness and neglect.