Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer of the new world. He made his first journey across the Atlantic in 1499. Vespucci was famous for his idea that the New World was not a part of Asia.
Vespucci was born in Florence, Italy in 1454. He learned the trade of the merchant instead of going to college or university. Because he learned to be a merchant, he also learned bookkeeping and the like. Hence, he was the perfect fit for a job offered to him by Lorenzo Medici as a clerk (somebody that keeps track of the money, transactions, and financial status of another person). His work as Lorenzo’s Clerk led him to Spain on some business matters. He helped finance some of Columbus’ journeys out of pocket but never actually went on any journeys with him. Vespucci accompanied King Manuel I of Portugal to South America (not yet named South America). Vespucci kept a journal of his trip to South America. He then published it in his book, .
How many times Vespucci was in the New World is debated, but he had been there at least once. He was one of the first people to explore what is now South America. Martian Waldseemuller decided to name the New World after Vespucci. His first name was Amerigo. Amerigo becomes America, and then that became divided into North America, Central America, and South America. Vespucci would come become the master navigator of Spain, and would hold that position until he died of Malaria in 1512.