Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who organised the Spanish expedition to the East Indies that resulted in the first circumnavigation of the Earth, completed by Juan Sebastián Elcano.

He was born in a still disputed location in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" (modern Maluku Islands in Indonesia).

Magellan's expedition of 1519–1522 became the first expedition to sail from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific Ocean (then named "peaceful sea" by Magellan; the passage being made via the Strait of Magellan), and the first to cross the Pacific. His expedition completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth. Magellan did not complete the entire voyage, as he was killed during the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines.

In 1521, traveling west from Europe, the expedition reached a region of Southeast Asia which Magellan had reached on previous voyages traveling east. Magellan thereby achieved a nearly complete personal circumnavigation of the globe.... More • http://en.wikipedia. ... d_Magellan View • Books • Images • Videos • Search Related • Discoveries • Explorers • Sailors • America • Aquarius • Exploration • February 03 • Killed • Philippines • Portugal • Renaissance • All Events • South America • 16th Century • Atlantic Ocean • Icons • Indian Ocean • Pacific Ocean • People