Ferdinand Magellan
The Global Explorer
Who Was Ferdinand Magellan?
Magellan was born into a very rich family. As a boy, he served as a page for the Queen of Portugal. He was taught at the Court of Portugal and in 1505, he joined the Portuguese service and fought battles in the East. With the support of King Charles V, Magellan and his men would be the very first to circumnavigate the globe. Equipped with five ships and over 250 men, he began sailing on August 10, 1519.
While he was sailing near South America, Magellan was searching for an opening that would lead into the South Sea. On October 21, he discovered a strait, which would later be called the Strait of Magellan, and about a month later, he reached an ocean which he called the Pacific ocean.
On March 16, 1521, Magellan reached the Philippines, and was eventually killed in battle between two native tribes on April 27th. Although he died, the very few of his crew that remained did eventually make it back to Europe on September 6, 1522. 18 of the 251 men survived the trip, and only one of the five ships came back.
Magellan's impact on the world still continues to effect us today. He created solid proof that the world was actually round, he named the largest of the five oceans, and the Strait of Magellan bears his name. Magellan provided an open window for many of the explorers that would come after him, and his historical voyage is an excellent reminder of what can come from the desire of exploring and learning.
The Phillipines
Statue of Magellan
Replica of the first ship to sail around the world completely
Magellan's Route
Citations
http://www.history.com/topics/exploration/ferdinand-magellan
http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/ferdinand-magellan.htm