Profile of the Day: Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan

On this day in 1519, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan set sail from Spain to find a better route to the Spice Islands of Indonesia. The voyage would result in the first circumnavigation of world.

Magellan was born to a Portuguese noble family around 1480. After the death of his parents, he became a page to Queen Leonor, the wife of John II of Portugal. He studied cartography, astronomy and celestial navigation, which would serve him well in the future.

A skilled sailor, Magellan was selected by King Charles I of Spain in 1519 to search for a westward route to the Spice Islands. With five ships under his command, Magellan set sail across the Atlantic. He sailed through what would become known as the Strait of Magellan, which is considered one of the most important passages between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The expedition finally arrived to the Spice Islands in 1521 and returned home via the Indian Ocean. Only one ship survived the voyage, becoming the first ship to circumnavigate the globe. Sadly, Magellan would not live to see the completion of the voyage. He was killed during a battle in the Philippines on April 27, 1521.

How are you related to Ferdinand Magellan? Explore his family tree to find your connection to the Portuguese explorer.
 

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Image: Wikimedia Commons