Juan Vicente Villacorta Díaz

Juan Vicente Villacorta Díaz (22 January 1764 – 1 November 1828) was a Central American politician who served as the 3rd Head of State of El Salvador from 1824 to 1826.

A prominent figure in the early federal era, he was also a member of the triumvirates that governed the Federal Republic of Central America between July 1823 and March 1824. During his tenure as the 3rd Head of State, he collaborated with Vice-Head of State Mariano Prado to establish the administrative foundations of the newly sovereign state within the federation. His administration is noted for its early efforts to stabilize the political landscape following the end of the Mexican Empire's influence in the region.

Villacorta was a member of the assembly that met in San Salvador in 1821. He was among the signers of the declaration of independence of Central America and a member of the constituent congress of the United Provinces of Central America in 1823. He formed part of the Supreme Executive Power of the Federation (the First and Second Triumvirates) in 1823–24.

Villacorta became chief of state of El Salvador on 13 December 1824. Mariano Prado was vice chief of state. Villacorta sent 500 troops to help federal President General Manuel José Arce suppress a rebellion in Nicaragua. On 20 April 1825, he introduced the papel sellado, the use of seals on official documents such as contracts, judicial decrees, deeds, etc. A tax was charged for the seals. The same month, he denounced the writings of the Archbishop of Guatemala, Fray Ramón Casaus y Torres, who argued against the recognition of Padre José Matías Delgado as archbishop of San Salvador. As a result, Federal president Arce admonished Casaus, and he suspended his attacks on Delgado.

In 1826 Villacorta approved a decree of the Legislature giving preference for entry into the military academy to sons of individuals who had died in defense of the fatherland in the years 1811, 1814, 1822 and 1823. In October 1826 he sent 300 troops to Guatemala to aid federal President Manuel José Arce. During his administration, El Semanario Político Mercantil was published in El Salvador.

On 1 November 1828, Villacorta died in Guatemala.