Paez, Jose Antonio. Venezuela patriot and Free­mason, born 1790; died 1873. He participated in the struggle to free his country from Spain in 1810-23 and to gain independence from Colombia in 1829. Upon accomplishing that, he became the first Presi­dent of Venezuela, serving 1830-34 and again, 1839-43, and as dictator in 1846. In 1860, he was ap­pointed Minister to the United States. He was the first Grand Master of Venezuela and, in 1840, be­came Grand Commander of the A. & A. S. R.