Succeeding acting President Flangini, Santos served as President of Uruguay from 1882 until 1886.
Creation of Flores Department
Among Santos's lasting acts as President was the creation of the Flores Department in the interior of the country, named after assassinated former President of Uruguay General Venancio Flores, who hailed from the territory incorporated as a department.
Other features of his rule
He also in a measure repaired relations with Paraguay.
However, his administration was also widely criticized for failure to root out corruption.
Subsequently, after relinquishing presidential office in 1886, Santos returned to exercise presidential powers for a number of months in 1886.
Succession
Santos was succeeded as president by his Colorado Party colleague Máximo Tajes, with whom, however, he had poor relations. Tajes was still exercising his presidential office at Santos's death.
Later life; death in exile
Subsequent to the relinquishing of his presidential office for the second time, Santos travelled in Europe, and was unable to return to Uruguay.
Still aged in his early 40s, Santos died in exile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1889.
^PRESIDENCIA DE LA ASAMBLEA GENERAL Y DEL SENADO PRESIDENCIA DE LA CAMARA DE REPRESENTANTES (October 29, 2013). "Parlamentarios Uruguayos 1830-2005"(PDF). www.parlamento.gub.uy. Archived from the original(PDF) on October 29, 2013.