Amerigo Vespucci
The navigator who realized that the New World was a separate continent, and after whom the Americas are named.
Life
Florentine merchant
Vespucci was a Florentine, originally a business agent for the Medici family in Seville, who had helped provision Columbus's fleet.
New World
In 1499–1502 he took part in at least two voyages to South America, sailing far south along the coast of Brazil. In his letters he argued that this land was not part of Asia but a "New World." The letters circulated widely, and in 1507 the German cartographer Waldseemüller drew on them to name the new continent "America."
Namesake of America
In 1508 he became Spain's chief navigator (piloto mayor), responsible for training navigators and drawing up navigational charts; he died in Seville in 1512.
Legacy
Vespucci was the first to recognize that the Americas were a New World, and the two continents were named after him.
Major works & achievements
- Mundus Novus (letters)
Did you know? Some of the letters attributed to him may have been embellished or even forged by publishers, and how many voyages he actually made is still debated.
Key dates
- 1492Provisions Columbus's fleet in Seville
- 1499First voyage to South America
- 1501Sailed south along the coast of Brazil
- 1503Mundus Novus letter published
- 1507The Americas named after him
- 1512Died