Francisco Antonino Vidal (1827–1889)[1] was born in Montevideo,[2] though his birth has also been reported as in 1825, in San Carlos, Uruguay.

He grew to become active in Uruguayan politics, serving as a member of the Colorado party.

He was appointed interim minister of the government c. 1865, and later became a member of the Senate of Uruguay.

[4] He became President of Uruguay in 1880, but was forced to resign in 1882 by Máximo Santos.

He became president once more in 1886, but his term only lasted a few months until Santos took over once again.