Bartolomé De Las Casas was a Spanish Dominican friar and historian born in 1484. He is best known for his advocacy for the rights of Indigenous peoples in the Americas. Initially, he participated in the colonization of the Caribbean but later renounced his involvement and became a vocal critic of the mistreatment of Native populations. De Las Casas wrote several works, including "A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies," which detailed the atrocities committed by Spanish colonizers. His efforts contributed to the eventual reforms in colonial policies, promoting a more humane approach to Indigenous peoples and their cultures.