Las Casas
BARTHOLOMÉ DE (läs-kä/säs); a Spanish prelate; born in he accompanied his father, who sailed Seville, Spain, in 1474. În his 19th year with Columbus, to the West Indies. On his return to Spain he embraced the ecclesiastical profession, in order that he might act as missionary in the Western Hemisphere. Never did man more zealously endeavor to effect a great and good object. Twelve times he crossed the ocean, to plead at the foot of the Spanish foot of the Spa throne the cause of the wretched Indians.
He was made Bishop of Chiapa in 1544; but he resigned his see in 1551, returned to his native country, and died in Madrid, in July, 1566. The most valuable of his writings is "General History of the Indies."