Ferdinand Magellan

Biography, Timeline & Facts about the famous explorer, explorations & voyages in the Age of Exploration

Ferdinand Magellan Ships

Short Biography of the life of Ferdinand Magellan - Explorer and Navigator
The following biography information provides basic facts about the life Ferdinand Magellan:

• Nationality - Portuguese
• Lifespan - 1480 - 1521
• Family - son of wealthy Mayor Pedro Ruy de Magalhaes and of Alda de Mezquita.
• Education - Tutored at the Court of Portugal
• Career - Explorer and Navigator
• Famous for : Ferdinand Magellan a Portuguese sea captain who led five Spanish ships and 251 men in the first voyage around the World

• The government of Spain provided the 5 ships for the expedition - Ferdinand Magellan Ships
  • Magellan commanded the Trinidad
  • Juan de Cartagena commanded the San Antonio
  • Gaspar de Quesada commanded the Conception
  • Luis de Mendoza commanded the Victoria
  • Juan Serrano commanded the Santiago

Facts, Timeline & History about the life of Ferdinand Magellan -
Explorer and Navigator

The following are additional facts about the life, timeline and history of Ferdinand Magellan:

• 1480: Ferdinand Magellan was born at Saborosa in Villa Real, Province of Traz os Montes in Portugal
• Magellan was from a wealthy and influential family and he spent his early years at the Portuguese court
• One of his teachers was believed to be the cartographer and navigator, Martin Behaim and Magellan become interested in making great voyages of discovery
• Ferdinand Magellan also studied the maps of Christopher Columbus
• 1505: Ferdinand Magellan joined the expedition of Francisco d'Almeida to India
• 1512: Magellan took part in the Portuguese expedition to Morocco and was badly wounded
• 1512: Ferdinand Magellan had a major disagreement with a commanding officer and left the service without prior permission
• 1513: Ferdinand Magellan asked King Manuel of Portugal for permission to sail to the Spice Islands in the Far East. His request was refused following the unfavourable reports from Morocco
• He resumed his studies in Portugal for a couple more years but it was obvious he would not gain support from the Portuguese court. He therefore renounced his Portuguese nationality
• 1518: Magellan left Portugal and headed for Spain
• 1519 March 22: Magellan convinced King Charles I of Spain to support his voyage to the Spice Islands. King Charles promised Magellan one-fifth of the profits from the voyage to the Spice Islands
• The government of Spain provided 5 ships for the expedition:
  • Magellan commanded Trinidad
  • Juan de Cartagena commanded the San Antonio
  • Gaspar de Quesada commanded the Conception
  • Luis de Mendoza commanded the Victoria
  • Juan Serrano commanded the Santiago
• Ferdinand Magellan led the five Spanish ships and 251 men in what was to become the first voyage around the World
• 1519, 20 September: The fleet under Ferdinand Magellan sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to South America and Rio de Janeiro. Magellan then started to search for a passage to the Pacific Ocean
• 1520, March: Magellan's fleet anchored for the winter at Puerto San Julian in Southern Argentina
• 1520 September : A storm destroys the Santiago and a mutiny breaks out
• 1520 October: Magellan and his crew resumed their voyage on the remaining ships
• 1520, 21 November: he entered the straits which would be named the Magellan Straits - they were to be the first Europeans ever to sail across the Pacific
• 1521 13 February Magellan reached the Equator
• 1521 March 6: Magellan reached the Pacific island of Guam
• 1521 16 March Magellan discovers the Philippines
• 1521 April 27: Ferdinand Magellan was killed by natives on the island of Mactan
• Only 110 of the original crew members remained so they abandoned one of the ships - the Conception
• The Trinidad tried to return back to Spain the same way they had came but was forced to return to the Spice Islands where they were imprisoned by the Portuguese
• The Victoria was the last remaining ship
• 1522, September 6  the Victoria reached Sanlucar de Barrameda in Spain with only eighteen survivors
• The momentous voyage of Ferdinand Magellan had taken nearly three years and many lives

Famous Explorers - Ferdinand Magellan - Explorer and Navigator

Some interesting facts, timeline and biography information about the History, Life & Times of Ferdinand Magellan. Additional details, timelines, facts, history and information about the famous European Explorers and events in the great Age of Exploration and Elizabethan Times can be accessed via the Elizabethan Era Sitemap.

Ferdinand Magellan

• Interesting Facts and information about Ferdinand Magellan in Elizabethan Times
• Short Biography about the life of Ferdinand Magellan
• Facts, Timeline & History about Ferdinand Magellan
• Major voyages of discovery and exploration
• Important accomplishments, picture, dates, timeline and events in the life and history of the explorer Ferdinand Magellan
• Famous Elizabethans - Major Figures, Pictures & People during Elizabethan Times

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Ferdinand Magellan

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