Rómulo Ángel del Monte Carmelo Gallegos Freire (August 2, 1884 – April 5, 1969) was a Venezuelan novelist and politician. In 1948, he became the first freely elected president in Venezuela's history, although he was removed from power after only nine months by a military coup.

Rómulo Gallegos is considered the most prominent Venezuelan novelist of the 20th century and a significant figure in Latin American literature. His novels, such as Doña Bárbara and Canaima, have become classics of Hispanic American literature.

Despite being offered a senatorial position by the dictator Juan Vicente Gómez, he refused and had to leave the country. In 1936, he served as the Minister of Public Instruction under Eleazar López Contreras. He was elected President of Venezuela in 1947, serving briefly in 1948 and receiving the highest percentage of vote support in the nation's history, with over 80%.

After his presidency ended with a coup led by his own Minister of Defense, Carlos Delgado Chalbaud, he was arrested and exiled. In 1960, he was elected as the first president of the newly created Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a position he held until 1963. He lived in Caracas until his death, also serving as a senator for life.