pah'ais, (1790-1873), one of the founders of South American independence, a native of Venezuela. He entered the patriot army in 1810, rose to be a general of division in 1819 and took a leading part in the Battle of Carabobo, which secured the independence of Colombia in 1821. At first he acted in concert with Bolivar, but in 1829 he placed himself at the head of the revolution which culminated in the independence of Venezuela, of which he was the first president. He served again as president from 1839 to 1843. In 1860 he was made minister to the United States, and in the following year he became dictator of Venezuela. The abuse of power by one of his ministers led to an insurrection, by which Paez was driven into exile. He died in New York.