Buil, Bernardo

Buil, Bernardo a Spanish Benedictine; the first missionary to America, was a native of Catalonia. He was appointed by the pope vicar-apostolic to the New World in 1493, and accompanied Columbus on his second voyage, taking with him several priests. On account of differences of opinion between him and Columbus as to the treatment of the natives, he returned to Spain in 1495, and took an active part in the persecutions waged against the great discoverer. I-Ie afterwards became abbot of the convent of Cuxa, where he died in 1520. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.