José María Vargas Ponce (10 March 1786, La Guaira – 13 April 1854, New York City) was the President of Venezuela from 1835–1836. Vargas was Venezuela's first civilian president. He graduated with a degree in philosophy from the Seminario Tridentino, and obtained in 1809 his medical degree from the Real y Pontificia Universidad de Caracas. Vargas was imprisoned in 1813 for revolutionary activities. Upon his release in 1813, he travelled to Europe for medical training. Vargas performed cataract surgery. He was one of the earliest oculists (eye surgeons) in Puerto Rico after his arrival there in 1817. He returned to Venezuela to practice medicine and surgery in 1825. He resigned from his presidency in 1836.