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MORELL DE SANTA CRUZ, Pedro Agustin (mo-rel'), R.
C. bishop, born in Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo, in 1694; died in
Havana, Cuba, 30 December, 1768. He studied theology in the University of Santo
Domingo, and was ordained priest in Havana in 1718. Soon afterward he was
appointed dean of the cathedral of Santiago de Cuba, and in 1745 elected bishop
of Leon, Nicaragua.
Nine years later he was appointed bishop of the dioceses
of Cuba and Florida, and in 1754 he went to Havana to assume his office. There
he built several churches, founded some charitable institutions, and was
indefatigable in the fulfillment of his duties and in his efforts to better the
condition of the poor.
When England took possession of Havana in 1762, he was
banished by Lord Albemarle, and went to Florida, where he did much missionary
work among the Indians. He was the first Roman Catholic bishop to enter the
limits of the British colonies. After the withdrawal of the English, Bishop
Morell returned to Cuba. He left two historical works, "Historia de la Isla y
Catedral de Cuba" (Havana, 1766), and "Relación de las tentativas de los
Ingleses en América" (1767).
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, by John Looby Copyright © 2001
StanKlos.comTM
MORELL DE SANTA CRUZ, Pedro Agustin (mo-rel'), R. C. bishop, born in Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo, in 1694; died in Havana, Cuba, 30 December, 1768. He studied theology in the University of Santo Domingo, and was ordained priest in Havana in 1718. Soon afterward he was appointed dean of the cathedral of Santiago de Cuba, and in 1745 elected bishop of Leon, Nicaragua. Nine years later he was appointed bishop of the dioceses of Cuba and Florida, and in 1754 he went to Havana to assume his office. There he built several churches, founded some charitable institutions, and was indefatigable in the fulfilment of his duties and in his efforts to better the condition of the poor. When England took possession of Havana in 1762, he was banished by Lord Albemarle, and went to Florida. where he did much missionary work among the Indians. He was the first Roman Catholic bishop to enter the limits of the British colonies. After the withdrawal of the English, Bishop Morell returned to Cuba. He left two historical works, "Historia de la Isla y Catedral de Cuba" (Havana, 1766), and "Relacidn de las tentativas de los Ingleses en Am6rica" (1767).
