José António Galán

José Antonio Galán (c. 1749 in Charalá, Santander (New Kingdom of Granada) – February 2, 1782 in Santafé de Bogotá (Id.) was a Neogranadine historical figure of the 18th century.

Biography He was the son of the Spaniard Antonio Galán, a small tobacco farmer, and the mestiza María de Argüello, a cotton weaver.

Legacy Galán became a symbol of resistance in Colombia. His fight for equality and the rights of the oppressed inspired future generations, and he is remembered as one of the early forerunners of Colombian independence. The Comunero movement, although suppressed, was a key precursor to the independence movements that would emerge 25 years later throughout Latin America.

In Colombia, several locations and public spaces bear his name in honor of his struggle. Furthermore, his figure has been reclaimed by social movements that see him as a folk hero who defended the most vulnerable against colonial oppression. His depiction appeared on the 1,000 Colombian peso banknote in 1979.