FERDINAND MAGELLAN
Ferdinand Magellan was born in 1480 (the exact date is unknown) in Portugal. Magellan was born into a noble family and was given a privileged upbringing. During Magellan’s childhood and teenage years, he developed sailing skills and when able he became a naval officer.
Magellan was a skilful officer with very good navigational skills (his skills have since been acknowledged by naming stars and galaxies after him such as the Martian crater of Magelhaens.) When he was 25 he was enlisted in the fleet of ships that were sent to India. Magellan stayed in India for over 8 years and during that time he participated in many battles.
Upon returning to Europe, as a result of his skills, and bravery in the Indian battles, Magellan was selected by King Charles I of Spain to command the fleet of vessels that set sail for the Maluku Islands. This voyage was set off in order to find a new, and alternative trading route to Columbus’ route, between Europe and Asia. The fleet set off in 1519 from Spain. On this expedition, the fleets headed through the Atlantic Ocean, and also passed through previously uncharted waters which Magellan named the ‘peaceful sea’- now called the Pacific Ocean. |
The expedition was not easy and there were a lot of storms, however the fleet safely arrived at the Maluku islands in 1521. After a short stay at the Maluku, or Spice islands, the fleet headed back to Europe via the Indian ocean. This voyage was the first ever circumnavigation of the globe and it was led by Juan Elcano because unfortunately, Magellan did not make it the entire way around the globe as he died in the Philippines on the 27th of April in 1521 in the Battle of Mactan.