| Lorenzo Batlle y Grau | |
| Place Of Birth: | Montevideo, Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata |
| Office: | President of Uruguay |
| Term Start: | 1 March 1868 |
| Term End: | 1 March 1872 |
| Predecessor: | Pedro Varela |
| Successor: | Tomás Gomensoro Albín |
| Birth Date: | 10 August 1810 |
| Birth Place: | Montevideo, Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata |
| Death Place: | Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Nationality: | Uruguayian |
| Party: | Colorado Party |
| Relations: | Batlle family |
Lorenzo Cristóbal Manuel Batlle y Grau (10 August 1810 in Montevideo - 8 May 1887 in Montevideo) was the president of Uruguay from 1868 to 1872.
He was the son of a wealthy merchant loyal to the Spanish crown. Lorenzo Batlle's son José Batlle y Ordóñez, nephew Luis Batlle Berres and grand-nephew Jorge Batlle Ibáñez would also serve as presidents of Uruguay.
Lorenzo Batlle was a military officer and one of the distinguished members of the Colorado Party. He served as Minister of War three times (1847-1851, 1853-1854 and 1865-1868).[1] He was Minister of Finance from 1856 to 1857.
In March 1868 interim President Pedro Varela stepped down from the Presidency.
He was elected President of Uruguay, serving from 1868 to 1872.[1]
His presidency failed because of a pre-existing monetary crisis. His attempts to control the country failed and, as a result, a civil war and military uprising erupted, culminating in his presidency and ushering in an era of dictatorship.
He died as a poor man in 1887 but was respected as a historical figure for his attempts to help the country.