Ferdinand Magellan Research Paper

Have you ever wondered who the first person to sail around the whole world was? If so, his name was Ferdinand Magellan, who was one of the greatest sailors/explorers ever to live. He was the first to cross the Pacific Ocean in the year of 1519, and was one of the best sailors to come from Portugal. Magellan’s voyage showed that you could reach Asia by traveling the Pacific. He also named it the Pacific Ocean. Ferdinand was born in Sabrosa, Portugal in 1480 to a noble set of parents. It was at a young age that he dreamed about being like the great sailors/explorers that he had heard about. After he realized that he wanted to go out and see the world and be like the explorers he’s heard about, he signed up for the army to become a soldier. During his time in the army, he traveled and was listed in many wars. During one of those wars that he participated in, he was injured badly, wounding him with scars that left him disabled or crippled for the …show more content…
Along with him seeking fortune, he also was in search for a westward sea route to the riches of Spice Islands of Indonesia. Queen Isabella and King Charles I, who later became Charles V, funded his voyage. Magellan set sail from Spain in 1519 with about 250 men and five ships, sailing around the southern end of South America. He and his crew sailed for months without a sight of land with the exception of small islands. During those months, food supply ran short. In 1520 he explored Rio and later ported in San Julian, only to remain there for several months. It was then when he lost his first ship to a wreck. After leaving San Julian he went on to find the passage that he later named after himself (the Strait of Magellan) and this is also where he named the Pacific Ocean because of its tranquility and peacefulness. During this time, he also lost his second ship due to them losing faith in the voyage and heading back to