Ferdinand Magellan

Magellan, Ferdinand (c.1480–1521), Portuguese navigator who commanded the first expedition to sail around the world. Magellan received Spanish backing (from Charles I) for his proposed voyage in search of a western route to the Spice Islands (East Indies), then believed to be only a few hundred miles beyond America. He set sail with 5 ships in 1519, explored the Rio de la Plata, sailed south to Patagonia, discovered the straits now named for him, then sailed northwest across the Pacific. Near starvation, the expedition reached Guam and the Philippines in 1521; Magellan was killed 10 days later in a skirmish with natives. Only one ship, the Victoria, returned to Spain.