February 22

Amerigo Vespucci, born in 1454 in Florence, was a navigator and mapmaker who participated in early voyages to the New World. He recognized that the lands encountered by European sailors were part of a previously unknown continent. Vespucci’s letters describing his travels circulated widely and helped shape European understanding of global geography. In 1507, the name “America” was adopted in his honor to designate the newly discovered continents. He later served as a royal pilot and cartographer for Spain. Vespucci died on February 22, 1512, leaving a legacy that forever transformed cartography.

Olivier van Noort, born in 1558 in Utrecht, transitioned from merchant sailing to exploration. In 1598, he led the first Dutch expedition to circumnavigate the world, challenging Spanish and Portuguese monopolies on global trade. His voyage lasted until 1601 and included skirmishes with Spanish forces in the Pacific. Despite significant hardships and losses, van Noort returned home to acclaim, opening Dutch maritime ventures in Asia. He died on February 22, 1627, remembered as a pioneer of Dutch naval ambition.