Ferdinand Magellan
What Did This Portuguese Explorer Do?
The Voyage's Beginnings
September 20, 1519 Ferdinand Magellan led 5 Spanish ships and 251 men in what was to become the first voyage around the World. He was famous for leading the first expedition around the world, sailing through the Straits of Magellan and entering the Pacific Ocean. The names of the ships were the Trinidad, the San Antonio, the Conception, the Victoria and the Santiago. Ferdinand Magellan led the 5 ships and 251 men in what was to become the first voyage around the World.
The Voyage's (Slightly Unfortunate) Ending
The fleet anchored for the winter at Puerto San Julian in Southern Argentina, They leave in September but a storm destroys the Santiago and a mutiny breaks out but is soon quashed. In March of 1521, they discover the the Pacific island of Guam and the Philippines by which time only 110 of the original 251 crew members are left alive. That April, Ferdinand Magellan is killed by natives on the island of Mactan in the Philippines. So few of the crew remain that they abandon the Conception. The Trinidad is captured by the Portuguese, leaving the Victoria as the last remaining ship.
In early September of 1522, The Victoria reached Sanlucar de Barrameda in Spain with only 18 survivors. The historic voyage of this great explorer had taken nearly three years and had cost 233 lives.