Son of José de Obaldía and Ana Maria Gallegos, he was born in David, Chiriquí on January 30, 1845.

[4] When José Domingo de Obaldía assumed the presidency in 1908, he began a policy of protecting the dignity of the Panamanian nation while respecting its interests in international relations with the United States.

He also realized the creation of the correctional houses of Colón and Panama, and created the District of Santa Maria in the Chiriquí province.

[citation needed] He died before finishing his term as President of the Republic of Panama on March 1, 1910.

(1999) • Mellander, Gustavo A., The United States in Panamanian Politics: The Intriguing Formative Years."