Amerigo Vespucci

Profession: Explorer

Nationality:

Why Famous: First person to demonstrate that Brazil and the West Indies did not represent Asia's eastern outskirts as initially conjectured from Columbus' voyages. Instead, he constituted an entirely separate landmass which was referred to as the New World. This second super continent came to be termed "America", deriving its name from Americus, the Latin version of his first name.

Born: March 9, 1454
Birthplace: Florence, Italy
Star Sign: Pisces

Died: February 22, 1512 (aged 57)