Peter Claver

Saint Peter Claver, S.J., was a Spanish Jesuit priest and missionary born in Verd who, due to his life and work, became the patron saint of slaves, the Republic of Colombia and ministry to African Americans. During theyears of his ministry in Colombia it is estimated he personally baptized around 300,000 people. He is also patron saint for seafarers. He is considered a heroic example of what should be the Christian praxis of love and of the exercise of human rights.

Claver was born in 1581 into a devoutly Catholic and prosperous farming family in the Catalan village of Verd, Urgell, located in the Province of Lleida, about 54 miles from Barcelona. He was born 70 years after King Ferdinand of Spain set the colonial slavery culture into motion by authorizing the purchase of 250 African slaves in Lisbon for his territories in New Spain, an event which was to shape Clavers life.

Source: Wikipedia