Amerigo Vespucci

Originally Aired: January 2, 1940 Cavalcade of America #168, "Amerigo Vespucci," explores the fascinating question of who truly discovered America. Young Amerigo grows up in Renaissance Florence, captivated by travelers' tales of mysterious lands beyond the known world. Despite his mother Madonna Elizabeth's disapproval, he studies under the renowned philosopher Paul Toscanelli, who believes the earth is round. Amerigo dreams of sailing the Sea of Darkness to prove this revolutionary theory, inspired by the very charts that Toscanelli creates for another ambitious mariner named Christopher Columbus. As years pass, Columbus moves closer to realizing his voyage while Amerigo remains trapped in Florence's luxury. When family misfortune strikes and his father loses his wealth, the now 38-year-old Amerigo seeks an audience with Lorenzo de Medici, the powerful patron of Florence. Standing before Lorenzo and his court, Amerigo requests something beyond a simple banking position, setting in motion events that will link his name forever to the New World.