Loading…
UCOURSELY
Home
Vocabulary
Grammar
Reading
Daily NewsBiography
Listening
Speaking
Writing
IPA
Books
Progress
Ferdinand Magellan Biography | Learn English through Stories
Back
Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan

A Portuguese explorer who organized the Spanish expedition that resulted in the first circumnavigation of the Earth.

This biography of Ferdinand Magellan helps you learn English through real historical stories.

born1480
died1521
nationalityPortuguese
known fororganizing the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe
fieldexploration and navigation

Key Takeaways

  • He organized the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe
  • He discovered the Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of South America
  • He named the Pacific Ocean for its calm waters
  • Although he died in the Philippines, his crew completed the historic voyage

Life Timeline

1480
Born in Sabrosa, Portugal
1519
Set sail from Spain with a fleet of five ships
1520
Discovered the Strait of Magellan and entered the Pacific Ocean
1521
Killed in the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines
1522
The ship Victoria returned to Spain, completing the circumnavigation

Biography Reading: Ferdinand Magellan

background

Born in 1480 in Portugal, Ferdinand Magellan was an experienced sailor and navigator. Like Columbus, he believed he could reach the Spice Islands by sailing west. When the Portuguese king refused to fund his risky voyage, Magellan moved to Spain and convinced King Charles I to support his ambitious plan to find a western sea route to the rich Spice Islands of Indonesia.

achievement

In 1519, Magellan set sail with a fleet of five ships and about 270 men. The journey was incredibly difficult, plagued by terrifying storms, mutinies, and starvation. In 1520, he successfully navigated a dangerous passage at the southern tip of South America, which is now known as the Strait of Magellan. They then entered a vast, calm ocean that Magellan named the "Pacific" (meaning peaceful).

impact

Tragically, Magellan did not survive the entire journey. In 1521, he was killed in a battle with indigenous people in the Philippines. However, one of his ships, the Victoria, commanded by Juan Sebastián Elcano, continued the voyage and returned to Spain in 1522. Out of the original crew, only 18 men survived to complete the first circumnavigation of the globe, forever changing humanity's understanding of the world's geography.

Essential Vocabulary

circumnavigate
to sail or travel all the way around something, especially the world
mutiny
an open rebellion against the proper authorities, especially by sailors
starvation
suffering or death caused by having nothing to eat
strait
a narrow passage of water connecting two larger areas of water
fleet
a group of ships sailing together
indigenous
originating or occurring naturally in a particular place

Knowledge Check Quiz

FACTUAL1 / 4

What did Magellan name the vast ocean he entered after passing South America?

Flashcards

Flashcard
Who organized the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe?
Ferdinand Magellan.
1 / 9

Learn more

Christopher Columbus
Exploration & Expansion of the World
Christopher Columbus
An Italian explorer and navigator who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the Americas to European exploration and colonization.
Marco Polo
Exploration & Expansion of the World
Marco Polo
A Venetian merchant and explorer who traveled through Asia along the Silk Road and documented his journey, introducing Europeans to the East.
James Cook
Exploration & Expansion of the World
James Cook
A British explorer, navigator, and cartographer who made three groundbreaking voyages to the Pacific Ocean, mapping lands from New Zealand to Hawaii.
Neil Armstrong
Exploration & Expansion of the World
Neil Armstrong
An American astronaut and aeronautical engineer who became the first person to walk on the Moon.
Yuri Gagarin
Exploration & Expansion of the World
Yuri Gagarin
A Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space, achieving a major milestone in the Space Race.
Zheng He
Exploration & Expansion of the World
Zheng He
A Chinese mariner, explorer, and fleet admiral who commanded seven epic voyages across the Indian Ocean, expanding China's maritime influence.
Amerigo Vespucci
Exploration & Expansion of the World
Amerigo Vespucci
An Italian explorer and navigator whose name was given to the continents of the Americas, recognizing them as a distinct New World.
Roald Amundsen
Exploration & Expansion of the World
Roald Amundsen
A Norwegian explorer who led the first expedition to reach the South Pole, mastering polar survival.
Ibn Battuta
Exploration & Expansion of the World
Ibn Battuta
A Moroccan Muslim scholar and explorer who traveled extensively throughout the medieval Islamic world and beyond, documenting his epic journeys.