timeline of amerigo vespucci
Timeline of Amerigo Vespucci
It is believed that the term 'America', which refers to the two American continents - North America and South America - is derived from the name of an Italian explorer - Amerigo Vespucci. Going through this write-up will give you a glimpse of the somewhat-controversial life of this Italian explorer.
- 1454: Amerigo Vespucci was born on 9th March, 1454, in Florence city of Italy, to Ser Nastagio (a notary by profession) and Elisabetta. (Vespucci's date of birth is again a subject of debate with some sources suggesting that he was born on 9th March, 1451.)
- 1478: Vespucci started working with Guido Antonio Vespucci at the embassy in Paris. Guido was his relative, and an ambassador of Florence to King Louis XI of France.
- 1483: Vespucci was appointed as a steward in the mansion of Lorenzo de Medici, an Italian statesman and the then ruler of Florence.
- 1491: He was sent to Seville, Spain to work for de Medici family. It was here that he was introduced to the world of voyages and exploration.
- 1497: He set out on his maiden voyage on 10th May, 1497, after he was granted permission by King Ferdinand of Spain, to undertake the voyage of discovery. Though, not much of information about this voyage is known, it is said that he reached the coast of America which was back then assumed to be Asia. Vespucci returned to Spain on 15th October, 1498.
- 1499: On 16th May, 1499, Amerigo Vespucci embarked on his second voyage from Cape Verde. He was accompanied by Alonzo de Ojeda as the fleet commander. During this voyage they ventured south, beyond the equator to the present day Guyana and discovered St. Augustine and the Amazon river.
- 1500: Vespucci returned from his second voyage in September 1500, and submitted his accounts to the de Medici family.
- 1501: He set sail for his third voyage from Lisbon on 14th May, 1501. This voyage was commissioned for the service of Portugal and was led by the Portuguese explorer, Goncalo Coelho.
- 1502: He returned from his third voyage, landing on the Lisbon coast in Portugal.
- 1503: Though the claim of fourth voyage is disputed, it is believed that Vespucci discovered Bahia and the Island of South Georgia on this voyage. He started a trading agency for Brazilian wood at Cape Frio, located exactly on the Tropic of Cancer.
- 1504: He returned to Lisbon, thus completing his fourth voyage.
- 1505: He acquired the citizenship of Spain, and married Maria Cerezo.
- 1507: It was the first time the word 'America' was used to represent the New World on a map. This map was printed by the renowned German map maker Martin Waldseemuller.
- 1508: Vespucci was made the Piloto mayor, or the Chief Pilot, of Spain.
- 1512: Amerigo Vespucci died on 22nd February, 1512, in Seville, Spain, after contracting malaria.