Amerigo Vespucci
Amerigo Vespucci was born on the 9th of March 1454 in Peretola, a suburb of Florence. His father Nastagio worked as a notary for the Money-Changers Guild while his mother Lisa di Giovanni Mini came from a local family. The Vespucci clan had deep roots in Santa Lucia d'Ognissanti district where they funded a chapel and supported the Hospital of San Giovanni di Dio since 1380. Amerigo's grandfather served thirty-six years as chancellor of the Florentine government known as the Signoria. This political connection brought the family into contact with Lorenzo de' Medici who ruled Florence as de facto leader. A cousin named Marco married Simonetta Vespucci who later appeared as Venus in Sandro Botticelli's famous painting. While his older brothers Antonio and Girolamo attended the University of Pisa, young Amerigo stayed behind to study under his uncle Giorgio Antonio Vespucci. The Dominican friar taught him literature philosophy rhetoric and Latin at the monastery of San Marco. He also learned geography and astronomy from Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli whose work influenced many explorers of that era.
In 1488 Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici sent Vespucci to Seville to investigate business troubles there. The merchant Tomasso Capponi had failed to manage operations so Vespucci assessed whether Gianotto Berardi could replace him. By 1492 Vespucci settled permanently in Seville while continuing some trade for his Medici patrons. Berardi invested half a million maravedis in Christopher Columbus's first voyage and secured contracts to provision ships. When Berardi died unexpectedly in December 1495 without completing terms Vespucci became executor of his will. He collected debts and paid obligations leaving himself owing one hundred forty thousand maravedis. He married Maria Cerezo possibly an illegitimate daughter of military leader Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba who held power of attorney during his absences. In May 1499 Vespucci joined Alonso de Ojeda's expedition licensed by Spain to explore South America near present-day Suriname or French Guiana. The fleet left Spain on the 18th of May 1499 stopping at Canary Islands before reaching the continent. They passed two huge rivers pouring freshwater into the sea then turned back after encountering strong adverse currents.
Manuel I of Portugal commissioned an expedition in 1501 to investigate lands far west in the Atlantic Ocean. Pedro Álvares Cabral had encountered this landmass accidentally while sailing around Africa to India. Vespucci was hired as pilot under Gonçalo Coelho whose three-ship fleet left Lisbon in May 1501. Before crossing they resupplied at Cape Verde where they met Cabral returning from India. On the 17th of August 1501 the expedition reached Brazil at about six degrees south latitude. Upon landing they encountered hostile natives who killed and ate one crewman. Sailing south along the coast they found friendlier people and engaged in minor trading. At twenty-three degrees south they discovered a bay named Rio de Janeiro because it was the 1st of January 1502. They departed the coast on the 13th of February 1502 heading home though their homeward journey remains unclear due to confusing records. Vespucci estimated their latitude at thirty-two degrees south but modern experts believe they were closer to twenty-five degrees south. This voyage led him to realize that Brazil formed part of a fourth continent unknown to Europeans which he called the New World.
Historical knowledge of Vespucci's voyages relies almost entirely on letters written by him or attributed to him. Two published accounts appeared between 1503 and 1505 while several manuscript letters remained hidden for centuries. The Letter to Soderini dated 1504 claimed four voyages occurred between 1497 and 1504 yet many historians doubt its authenticity. Some scholars suspect contemporary Bartolomé de las Casas when he argued Vespucci stole credit from Columbus. In 1856 Ralph Waldo Emerson called Vespucci a thief who managed half the world baptized with his dishonest name. Alberto Magnaghi published results in 1924 denying authorship of the two printed letters while accepting three unpublished manuscripts as genuine. He proposed only second and third voyages were true while first and fourth were fabrications cobbled together by publishers. Modern historians remain divided with some accepting all four voyages as truthful while others reject the first voyage described in the Soderini letter. Felipe Fernández-Armesto calls the question inconclusive suggesting the first voyage might be another version of the second one.
In April 1507 Matthias Ringmann and Martin Waldseemüller published their Introduction to Cosmography with an accompanying world map. They obtained a French translation of the Soderini letter plus a Portuguese maritime map detailing western Atlantic coasts. Their map titled Universal Geography According to the Tradition of Ptolemy and the Contributions of Amerigo Vespucci and Others applied the name America for the first time. One thousand copies of this wall map were printed though only four originals survive today in Germany UK and US universities used it extensively. Gerardus Mercator later named both North and South continents America on his influential 1538 map securing the tradition. In 1513 Waldseemüller published a new map labeling New World Terra Incognita instead naming Columbus discoverer. Many supporters felt Vespucci stole honor rightfully belonging to Columbus yet most historians believe he never saw Waldseemüller's map before dying in 1512. The Introduction became great success with four editions printed within its first year alone while twelve editions of Mundus Novus appeared within one year of publication.
By early 1505 Vespucci returned to Seville where King Ferdinand summoned him to consult navigation matters. He received payments from crown then declared citizen of Castile and León by royal proclamation in April. From 1505 until death in 1512 he served Spanish crown as chandler supplying ships bound for Indies. In March 1508 he was named chief pilot for Casa de Contratación or House of Commerce earning fifty thousand maravedis annually plus twenty-five thousand for expenses. His role ensured pilots were adequately trained and licensed before sailing to New World. He compiled Padrón Real model map based on input from obligated pilots sharing knowledge after each voyage. Vespucci wrote his will in April 1511 leaving modest estate including five household slaves to wife Maria Cerezo. Clothes books and navigational equipment went to nephew Giovanni Vespucci who later spied for Florentine state. Vespucci died the 22nd of February 1512 requesting burial in Franciscan habit within wife's family tomb. Afterward wife received annual pension of ten thousand maravedis deducted from successor chief pilot salary.
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Common questions
When and where was Amerigo Vespucci born?
Amerigo Vespucci was born on the 9th of March 1454 in Peretola, a suburb of Florence. His father Nastagio worked as a notary for the Money-Changers Guild while his mother Lisa di Giovanni Mini came from a local family.
What expeditions did Amerigo Vespucci join between 1499 and 1502?
In May 1499 Amerigo Vespucci joined Alonso de Ojeda's expedition to explore South America near present-day Suriname or French Guiana. He later participated in Manuel I of Portugal's 1501 expedition under Gonçalo Coelho which reached Brazil at about six degrees south latitude before discovering Rio de Janeiro on the 1st of January 1502.
Why is the continent named America after Amerigo Vespucci?
Matthias Ringmann and Martin Waldseemüller published their Introduction to Cosmography with an accompanying world map in April 1507 that applied the name America for the first time based on Vespucci's letters. Gerardus Mercator later secured this tradition by naming both North and South continents America on his influential 1538 map.
How many voyages did Amerigo Vespucci make according to historical records?
The Letter to Soderini dated 1504 claimed four voyages occurred between 1497 and 1504 yet many historians doubt its authenticity. Alberto Magnaghi proposed only second and third voyages were true while first and fourth were fabrications cobbled together by publishers.
What official roles did Amerigo Vespucci hold for the Spanish crown from 1505 until death?
Amerigo Vespucci served as chandler supplying ships bound for Indies from 1505 until death in 1512. In March 1508 he was named chief pilot for Casa de Contratación earning fifty thousand maravedis annually plus twenty-five thousand for expenses.