Ferdinand Magellan

Captain of the First Voyage around the World

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who was the captain of the first expedition to successfully circumnavigate the globe.

Ferdinand Magellan

Magellan was born in the northern part of Portugal in 1480. (It is still disputed whether he was born in the town Porto or Sabrosa.)

His parents were very wealthy and part of the nobility.

His parents died when Ferdinand was only 10 years old. Ferdinand then became a page for the queen.

BackgroundDate of Birth and Place

Portugal was a leader in early exploration due to the efforts of Prince Henry the Navigator

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Magellan began as a mapmaker. In Magellan’s 20’s he began sailing with the

Portuguese. He sailed to

East Africa the East Indies or the Spice Islands Helped take over the Port of Malacca in Malaysia Was wounded in Morrocco and accused of trading

with the Moors.

Early Years

Like Columbus, Magellan believed you could sail west and reach the East Indies.

He asked the king of Portugal for money to finance his trip, but was refused.

So Magellan went to the Spanish King, Charles V, who gave him 5 ships in 1519 to try and sail around the world.

Early Years Continued…

Magellan devised a plan to sail around the world.

He discovered the straight of Magellan on the southern tip of South America. A much safer passage than trying to sail around Cape Horn

It took him a month to sail through the strait. Reached the ocean Balboa had discovered

and named it the Pacific because of its calm and peaceful waters.

Achievements

Magellan did not complete his voyage. He was killed in battle on the Island of Mactan in the Phillipines.

Juan Sebastian del Cano completed the trip. It took 3 years to complete the journey back to

Seville, Spain. The only ship to return was the Victoria

(Magellan’s Ship) Only 18 of the original 270 crew members

completed the journey.

Did You Know?

The Victoria was theOnly ship out of 5To complete the journey.

Magellan’s Ship

Magellan’s Route

Magellan was a brave and adventurous explorer. Although he himself did not complete the journey, his crew proved that the world was round.

His work as an explorer was important to developing new maps and developing a new idea of ways to get to the East Indies.

Conclusion