Ferdinand Magellan

Circumnavigator
Ferdinand Magellan was a Potrugese captain, who went on a voyage around the world in 1519 sponsored by Spain. At the time no one had ever done this, called circumnavigation.Through the voyage, Magellan had many problems with the crew, but he was firm and kind to keep order. When Magellan was killed on the voyage the crew was led by Juan Sebastian del Cano, and they traveled to the Spice Islands then back to Spain becoming the first circumnavigators. At that time only 18 original sailors on one ship were left. However, there was a large amount of Asian spices making the voyage economically important to Spain.

Early Life
Magellan was born around 1480 in Portugal. He went to a monastery school, and was a page for Queen Leonor in Lisbon. When he was 15, Magellan sailed to India for Manuel I of Portugal. He was a part of battles against Muslims and Malays, and was wounded twice. After one of these, he became the captain of a caravel. After he was rejected for a raise by the king, he went to Spain to serve King Charles I. In 1518, Magellan sold the king on his plan to sail west to reach the Spice Islands.

The Voyage
He had five ships with approximently 250 sailors. His lead ship was the Trinidad, with his first oficer being Juan de Cartegena. The crew was Spanish and Portugese, making an awkward and tense atmosphere. When Cartegena tried to make Magellan do something wrong that would allow him to mutiny, he was arrested. Another mutiny was attempted by Gaspar de Quesada, but most of the crew stayed with Magellan. They traveled down the coast of South America and through what would be called the Magellan Strait at the tip. When he reached the ocean, he named it the Pacific. They traveled for months across the Pacific until they reached the Phillipines, where Magellan was killed in a battle with the natives. The crew, led by Juan Sebastion del Cano, finished the voyage, reaching the Spice Island. Then they returned to Spain, and along the way, they crossed the International Date Line. Arriving in Spain, the crew was the first true proof that the Earth was round.