Amerigo Vespucci (born March 9, 1454 in Florence; died February 22, 1512 in Seville) is an entrepreneur and Explorer, member of the Spanish and Portuguese expeditions to the New world. This part of the world, America, was named after him.
From a family of businessman, received an excellent education at home, he studied mathematics and astronomy. After his father's death in 1478, he served in the banking house of Medici, from 1493 — the agent of this house in Seville and Cadiz. With 1495 engaged in the supply and training of overseas expeditions for the purpose of disembarkation of the colonists. 1500 entered the service in Portugal. May 31, in 1501 the Portuguese expedition departed in search of the mythical Strait Cattigara, which, according to Ptolemy, is from Eastern Asia to India. And the open of the earth by Columbus was considered the Eastern edge of Asia. The expedition headed for the South Atlantic.
Vespucci was the first European scientist, who explored the coast of Brazil and the Gulf of La Plata. The nature and lifestyle of the local population convinced him that this was not Asia but a new world.
On July 22, 1502, the expedition returned to Lisbon. Immediately on his return, Vespucci wrote to the Duke of Medici a letter describing the expedition. It ended with the assumption that the new lands in the West is a special mainland (terra firma lat.). In 1504, in Florence, came essay on astronomy under the title "Mundus Novus", a New Light, written on behalf of Vespucci. The authorship of this composition is disputed, it contains quite boastful passages, the style is different from that of letters 1502. However, the name "New Light" caught on, and then in honor of Amerigo cartographers named the name "Americus," the continent of this "New world".
Amerigo Vespucci, in 1508 took Spanish citizenship until his death he filled the post of chief pilot of Spain.