Amerigo Vespucci

Amerigo Vespucci (9 March 1451The letters of Amerigo Vespucci and other documents illustrative of his career: "We learn from Bandini that Amerigo was the third son of a notary at Florence, named Ser Nastagio (Anastasio) Vespucci, by Lisabetta Mini, and that he was born on March 9th, 1451.".- 22 February 1512) was an Italian merchant, explorer and cartographer. He was the first person to explain that the places discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 were not part of east Asia, but an unknown continent which he called "The New World". America got its name when other cartographers used a feminized and latinized version of his first name, Americus.Arciniegas, Germán. Amerigo and the New World: the life & times of Amerigo Vespucci. Translated by Harriet de Onís. New York: Octagon Books, 1978. 

Not much is known of Vespucci's life. Two books were published saying he wrote them. Some letters exist, also saying he wrote them. He visited the New World at least twice, and died of malaria.

 References 

 Other websites 

 Canaday, James A. The Life of Amerigo Vespucci .
 Account of 'The First Voyage', 1497: Letter of Amerigo Vespucci To Pier Soderini - Fordham University (U.S.) Internet Modern History Sourcebook 
 A scale model  - A scaled wooden model of the Amerigo Vespucci.

 'I am America.' - New York Times: Five hundred years ago, our continent was given a name.

Category:1454 births
Category:1512 deaths
Category:Deaths from malaria
Category:Italian explorers
Category:People from Florence