AmerigoVespucci (1454-1512)
Amerigo Vespucci was one of the early explorers of the New
World, the continents of North and South America are named in his
honor.
Born in Florence, Italy in 1454 and well-educated by
his uncle, he became a businessman involved in trading goods. He
moved to Seville, Spain in 1491 and worked in trading. He was there
when Christopher Columbus returned from his first journey to the
New World and helped Columbus get ready for his second and
third voyages.
Vespucci was a skilled navigator going on four voyages to
Central and South America between 1497 and 1504 for Spain and
Portugal. He went to many places, including Venezuela and Brazil.
Vespucci was one of the first explorers to come up with the idea
that these places he had visited were not part of Asia (as Columbus
thought) but were a "New World." In 1507, a pamphlet published
called "The Four Voyages of Amerigo" the author suggested that the
new lands that Amerigo had explored be named in his honor.
The name America was only meant to apply to South America, later
on, both continents became known by his name. After his
explorations, Amerigo returned to Seville and became its Master
Navigator. He died in 1512.
The above information is derived from material published by New York's
Italian Heritage and Culture Month Committee.