MUNOZ, Juan Bautista (moon-yoth), Spanish historian, born in Museros. near Valencia, in 1745; died in Madrid in 1799. He studied rhetoric and mathematics in Valencia, and in 1.770 was appointed cosmographer of the council of the Indies. In 1779 King Charles III. commanded him to write a general history of America, but the council of the Indies opened their archives reluctantly, and the viceroys of South America refused to communicate official documents that proved frequent abuses of authority over the Indians, which it was to their interest to conceal. Munoz tried his best to overcome all difficulties and made several voyages to South America for that purpose. He composed only the first part of his intended work, the publication of which was prohibited by the council of the Indies, but Charles IV. interposed his authority and the work was printed. It is entitled "Historia general de las Indias e Nuevo Mundo " (Madrid, 1793). The University of Valencia bought his other manuscripts, but they were burned with the library during the French bombardment of 1812.