March 9
NEW WORLD DAY
A baby born in Florence, Italy on this day in 1454 was destined to become one of the world’s most famous explorers. Amerigo Vespucci was a merchant and an outfitter of ships, a job that introduced him to Christopher Columbus.
Their stars would cross again in 1507 when a German map maker honored Amerigo Vespucci by naming the new continent on his maps, America. The mapmaker had not heard of Columbus’ discovery at the time. So Columbus got the credit for the discovery; but the discovery bore the name of Vespucci ... forever.
In reality, Vespucci had participated in two major expeditions between the years 1499 and 1502, to the coast of South America. There he discovered the Amazon and Plate Rivers. Vespucci thought he had discovered a new continent ... or a New World.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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