Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer and navigator born in 1454. He is best known for his voyages to the New World, which took place in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Vespucci played a crucial role in demonstrating that the lands discovered by Christopher Columbus were part of a separate continent, which was later named America in his honor. Vespucci's explorations contributed to the understanding of the geography of the Americas. He made detailed maps and wrote letters describing his journeys, which helped to inform European knowledge about the New World. His work laid the foundation for future exploration and colonization efforts.