Francisco Javier de Elío y Olóndriz (5 March 1767 – 4 September 1822) was a Spanish Army officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Montevideo.

Elío remained in control of Montevideo and the Banda Oriental and declared himself Viceroy of Río de la Plata, which was confirmed as Political Chief by the Cortes of Cádiz on January 19, 1811.

One month later the rural population of the Banda Oriental under José Gervasio Artigas also rebelled against Spain, and in May the troops of Elío were beaten in the Battle of Las Piedras.

Only left in control of Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo, Elío returned to Spain on November 18, 1811, and resigned as Political Chief in January 1812.

When King Ferdinand VII of Spain returned in 1814 from exile in France, he was requested by the Cortes to respect the liberal Spanish Constitution of 1812, which seriously limited the royal powers.