José Manuel Restrepo Vélez (30 December 1781 – 1 April 1863)[1] was an investigator of Colombian flora, political figure and historian.

Restrepo was born in the town of Envigado, Antioquia in the Colombian Mid-west.

He later worked as Secretary for Juan del Corral and Governor Dionisio Tejada during their dictatorial government over Antioquia.

From 1811 to 1814 he became a Deputy Representative of Antioquia during the Congress of the United Provinces of New Granada.

After independence from Spain was achieved by Simon Bolivar, Restrepo became governor of Antioquia in 1819 as it came to be part of Greater Colombia.