Casas, Bartolome De Las: - Bartolom de las Casas was a Spanish clergyman, historian, writer, and activist, born on November 11, 1484, in Seville, Spain. He is best known for his advocacy for the Indigenous peoples of the Americas and his work as a social reformer during the Spanish colonization. Initially arriving in Hispaniola as a layman, he later joined the Dominican order and became a friar. De las Casas is most renowned for his writings, particularly "A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies," in which he detailed the atrocities committed by Spanish settlers against native communities. His efforts, though controversial at the time, were crucial in bringing attention to the ethical issues of colonization and in advocating for the rights and protection of Indigenous peoples. He was consecrated as a bishop on March 30, 1554, and served in various religious and political capacities, leaving a legacy as one of the most significant early defenders of human rights. De las Casas passed away on July 18, 1566, in Madrid, Spain, at the age of 81. His parents were Pedro de las Casas and Isabel de Sosa.