Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was a famous explorer from Portugal. He lived over 500 years ago. He wanted to find a new way to sail from Europe to Asia. In the year 1519, he set off with five ships and about 270 men. His trip became the first one to sail all the way around the world. This amazing journey proved that the Earth is round.

The Big Voyage

Magellan left Spain in September 1519. He sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to South America. He looked for a way to get to the other side. After many months, he found a narrow path of water near the bottom of South America. Today we call it the Strait of Magellan. His ships sailed through it and reached a huge new ocean. He named it the Pacific, which means peaceful, because the water looked so calm.

The End of the Journey

The trip across the Pacific Ocean was very long and hard. The sailors ran out of food and fresh water. Many got sick. Magellan reached islands called the Philippines in 1521. Sadly, he was killed there in a fight and never made it home. But one of his ships, the Victoria, kept sailing. It returned to Spain in 1522. Only 18 men made it back, but they had sailed all the way around the world.

Fun Facts

• Magellan started with five ships, but only one made it all the way back home.
• The trip around the world took almost three years to finish.
• The Pacific Ocean got its name from Magellan because the word pacific means calm and peaceful.

Did You Know?

Even though Magellan led the first trip around the world, he did not finish it himself. He died before the journey was over, but his crew kept sailing and made history.