St. Dominic, Spanish in full Santo Domingo de Guzmán, (born c. 1170, Caleruega, Castile [Spain]—died August 6, 1221, Bologna, Romagna [Italy]; canonized July 3, 1234; feast day August 8), founder of the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans), a mendicant religious order with a universal mission of preaching, a centralized organization and government, and a great emphasis on scholarship. He is a patron saint of the Dominican Republic, and of astronomers.