Explorer · 1480 – 1521
Ferdinand Magellan
Little-Known Facts
- Only one of his five ships, the Victoria, completed the circumnavigation, returning with a fraction of the original crew.
- Magellan first served Portugal in Asia before offering his plan to Spain after a falling-out with the Portuguese crown.
Myths & Misconceptions
Did Magellan sail all the way around the world?
No. Magellan was killed in the Philippines in 1521; his crew, led by Juan Sebastián Elcano, completed the circumnavigation in 1522.