The Encyclopedia Americana (1906)/Muñoz, Juan Bautista

Muñoz, Juan Bautista, hoo-än' bä-oo-tēs'-tä mū~ñōth', Spanish historian: b. near Valencia, Spain, 1745; d. Madrid, Spain, 1799. He was graduated from the University of Valencia and was appointed in 1779 historiographer of the Indies and was instructed by the king to write a history of America. This work was published under the title 'Historia del Nuevo Mundo' in 1793 and though completed only to 1500 is highly valued. Of his manuscripts many are now in the Academy of History at Madrid but, unfortunately, many others are scattered.