Write about Ferdinand Magellan

 

Question: Write about Ferdinand Magellan?

Ans: Ferdinand Magellan 1480 – 27 April 1521

Magellan was a brave sailor from Portugal. Manuel I, king of Portugal did not believe Magellan when he told that there may be another route to East. Charles I, King of Spain believed in the view of Magellan and funded his voyage. Magellan started his journey with 5 ships named: the Trinidad, the Santiago, the Victoria, the Concepcion, and the San Antonio. Magellan commanded the Trinidad. As Magellan was a Portuguese, his Spain followers were suspicious of him.

Magellan gave the name Pacific to Pacific Ocean. Pacific means ‘peaceful’.

For Magellan it took 4 months to reach Mariana Islands. It was far more duration than Magellan expected.  

 

The route discovered by Magellan to East was named by him as ‘All Saints Channel’. Now we call it ‘Straight of Magellan’. On his way to Philippines Magellan involved in quarrel between local tribes and got killed. Only one of the total five ships returned Spain. It was the Victoria captained by Juan Sebastian del Cano completed the journey. Victoria travelled a total distance of 42,000 miles in a span of 3 years.

Magellan is considered as the first person to circumnavigate around the world. In reality, Magellan had completed only half of his task.