Ferdinand Magellan: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	Hernando de Magallanes • Fernão de Magalhães • Fernando de Magallanes
Born	c.1480 • Porto • Portugal
Died	April 27, 1521 • Mactan Island • Philippines

Photos and Videos

Map of the Atlantic Ocean region showing the two vertical lines of demarcation established by the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1493 and 1494. The lines run north to south, dividing the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal, with one line east of South America and the other closer to the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of Africa. Surrounding continents, including North and South America, Europe, and Africa, are labeled for reference.

World map showing the routes of the first circumnavigations: Ferdinand Magellan and Juan Sebastian del Cano's expedition from 1519 to 1522 is traced in red, and Francis Drake's voyage from 1577 to 1580 is traced in purple. Both routes start in Europe, cross the Atlantic to South America, pass through the Strait of Magellan, and continue across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, with Drake's route paralleling much of Magellan's path before returning to Europe. Key locations and years are labeled alon

An antique black-and-white map of South America from the Encyclopaedia Britannica First Edition, showing regions labeled as New Spain, Terra Firma, Amazons, Brazil, Paraguay, Terra Magellanica, Chile, Peru, and Tierra del Fuego, with surrounding oceans and a decorative compass rose.

Map showing the transatlantic and global routes of major early voyages of discovery and exploration by Spain, Portugal, England, and France during the 15th and 16th centuries. The map traces the journeys of explorers such as Columbus, Cabot, Magellan, da Gama, and others, with labeled paths crossing the Atlantic and encircling Africa and South America, as well as lines of demarcation dividing Spanish and Portuguese exploration zones.

Oceanic voyages of Ferdinand Magellan and his crew, 1519–22

See All Videos and Images →

Bougainville, engraving by Émile Lassalle after Maurin

Louis-Antoine de Bougainville

French navigator

Sir Joseph Banks

British naturalist

Otto von Kotzebue

Russian explorer

Robert Gray

American explorer

Krusenstern, detail of a portrait by an unknown artist

Adam Johann Krusenstern

Russian explorer

Bertrand Piccard

Swiss aviator

Robert Fitzroy

British scientist

Brian Jones

British aviator

Baron Anson, detail of an oil painting by an unknown artist, c. 1745–46; in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, Eng.

George Anson, Baron Anson

British admiral

Hugo Eckener

German aeronautical engineer

Joshua Slocum

Canadian seaman

John Byron

British admiral

Tobias Furneaux

British explorer

Thomas Cavendish

English navigator and explorer

Wiley Post

American pilot

Juan Sebastián del Cano

Spanish navigator

Nicolaus Copernicus

Polish astronomer

William Thomson, Baron Kelvin

Scottish engineer, mathematician, and physicist

Sir Francis Drake

English admiral

James Bradley

English astronomer

Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias on his voyage to the Cape of Good Hope; engraving, 1878. (exploration, Bartholomew Dias, Bartholomew Diaz)

Explorers and Explorations (Part One) Quiz

Who Did That? A Historical Bio Quiz

Buzz Aldrin. Apollo 11. Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin Aldrin, photographed July 20, 1969, during the first manned mission to the Moon's surface. Reflected in Aldrin's faceplate is the Lunar Module and astronaut Neil Armstrong, who took the picture.

Exploration and Discovery

Ferdinand Magellan: Quick Facts

Facts

Photos and Videos

Related Biographies

Related Quizzes

Thank you for signing up!