Amerigo Vespucci (
/vɛˈspuːtʃi/;
[1] Italian:
[ameˈriːɡo veˈsputtʃi]; 9 March 1454 – 22 February 1512) was an
Italian-born merchant, explorer, and navigator from the
Republic of Florence, from whose name the term "
America" is derived. He became a
Castillian citizen in 1505.
Between 1497 and 1504, Vespucci participated in at least two voyages of the
Age of Discovery, first on behalf of Spain (1499–1500) and then for Portugal (1501–1502). In 1503 and 1505, two booklets were published under his name, containing colourful descriptions of these explorations and other alleged voyages. Both publications were extremely popular and widely read across much of Europe. Although historians still dispute the authorship and veracity of these accounts, at the time they were instrumental in raising awareness of the new discoveries and enhancing the reputation of Vespucci as an explorer and navigator.
Vespucci claimed to have understood, back in 1501 during his Portuguese expedition, that Brazil was part of a continent new to Europeans, which he called the
New World. The claim inspired cartographer
Martin Waldseemüller to recognize Vespucci's accomplishments in 1507 by applying the Latinized form "America" for the first time to a map showing the New World. Other cartographers followed suit, and by 1532 the name America was permanently affixed to the newly discovered continents.
It is unknown whether Vespucci was ever aware of these honours. In 1505, he was made a citizen of Castile by royal decree and in 1508, he was appointed to the newly created position of chief navigator for Spain's
Casa de Contratación (House of Trade) in Seville, a post he held until his death in 1512.
