MAGELLAN, Ferdinand
1479-1521
Portuguese
mariner, honored with being the first circumnavigator of the globe as
a result of his leadership of the Spanish-funded circumnavigation of
1519-22 which comprised 5 ships & 270 men.
It is slightly inaccurate honor to give to Magellan, as he was in fact killed on the
Philippine island of Mactan in April 1521 and the final part of the
expedition from Asia to Europe was completed under the leadership of
Sebastiano del Cano.
Magellan's flagship Victoria arrived
back in Spain in September 1522 with only 18 remaining survivors.
Magellan discovered the Pacific Ocean, via a route through the
dangerous Straits at the southern tip of South America, which now bear
his name. Much of what is known of Magellan's expedition comes from the
account of one of the few survivors, the Italian Antonio Pigafetta.
Dictionary of map makers
An illustrated list of makers of maps, charts and globes from the earliest time of cartography to present.
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