José María Vargas Ponce (10 March 1786, in La Guaira – 13 April 1854, in New York City) was the president of Venezuela from 1835 to 1836.

Upon his release in 1813, he travelled to United Kingdon for medical training.

He was one of the earliest oculists (eye surgeons) in Puerto Rico after his arrival there in 1817.

José María Vargas was married to Encarnación Maitín,[citation needed] who served as First Lady of Venezuela from 1835 to 1836.

[citation needed] In 1877, his ashes were brought to Caracas and buried in the National Pantheon on 27 April of that same year.