Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer best known for leading the first expedition to circumnavigate the Earth. In 1519, he set out from Spain with a fleet of ships seeking a westward route to the Spice Islands. Magellan's journey was significant not only for its ambition but also for revealing the vastness of the globe and the variety of cultures. Although he was killed in the Philippines in 1521 before completing the voyage, his expedition ultimately demonstrated the unity of the world's oceans and expanded European understanding of global geography. His fleet returned to Spain in 1522.