Peter Claver was a 17th-century Spanish Jesuit priest who dedicated his life to serving enslaved people in the New Kingdom of Granada. Born in 1580 in Verdú, he traveled to Cartagena in 1615 to continue the missionary work of his mentor, Alonso de Sandoval. Throughout his forty-year ministry, he provided essential medical care, food, and spiritual guidance to those arriving on slave ships. He is recognized as a saint in the Catholic tradition and serves as a patron for several groups, including slaves, seafarers, and the nation of Colombia.