# Ezequiel Fernández

_President of Panama (1886-1946)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/ezequiel-fernandez
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Ezequiel Fernández Jaén (3 March 1886 – 26 March 1946) was one of Panama's presidential designates from 1936 to 1940 and in that capacity also served as acting President of Panama from 16 December 1939, to 18 December 1939. He belonged to the National Revolutionary Party (PNR), acting as president and "Supreme Leader" of the party, until in 1940, Arnulfo Arias Madrid, became President of Panama.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 3 March 1886 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q721723#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Penonomé ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q721723#P19))
- **Died:** 26 March 1946 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q721723#P570))
- **Place of death:** Panama City ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q721723#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Panama ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q721723#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; diplomat ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q721723#P106))
- **Political party:** Panameñista Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q721723#P102))
- **Positions held:** ambassador; President of Panama ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q721723#P39))

## About

He was elected as the third presidential designate by the National Assembly for the term 1936–1938, and as the second presidential designate for the term 1938–1940.

Fernández's three-day rule is the shortest term ever served by a President of Panama.

With former President Harmodio Arias Madrid, he was the founder, architect, and for several years, main leader, of the National Revolutionary Party (PNR), until for health reasons he stepped down in 1940 after organizing the party for Arnulfo Arias Madrid. Ezequiel Fernández Jaén was succeeded as leader and President of the party by Arnulfo Arias Madrid, who became President of Panamá in 1940. Fernandez remained leader of the party until Arnulfo Arias Madrid won the election. Then, President Arnulfo Arias Madrid, appointed him as the Panamanian Ambassador to Costa Rica where he negotiated the Echandi-Fernández Jaén Treaty, ending a long border controversy that led both countries to war (the Coto War). Over the years, the National Revolutionary Party became the Arnulfista Party and the Panameñista Party, and Fernández Jaén s' historical relevance was diminished by Arnulfo Arias Madrid. Fernández Jaén acted as judge, Supreme Court judge and also as cabinet Government and Justice Secretary. He had eight children from his first marriage. After his first wife died, he remarried (with Zoila Adela Moré Ochoa) and had three other children. He was also father of one other son.

## Questions

**When was Ezequiel Fernández born?**  
Ezequiel Fernández was born on 3 March 1886 in Penonomé.

**What positions has Ezequiel Fernández held?**  
Positions held by Ezequiel Fernández include: ambassador; President of Panama.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Ezequiel Fernández](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezequiel_Fern%C3%A1ndez_(Panamanian_politician)) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q721723](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q721723) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Don Ezequiel Fernández Jaén.jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Don_Ezequiel_Fern%C3%A1ndez_Ja%C3%A9n.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Ezequiel Fernández, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Don Ezequiel Fernández Jaén.jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Ezequiel Fernández". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/ezequiel-fernandez. Retrieved 5 November 2026.