Ferdinand Magellan or Sebastian Del Cano

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Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer, a skilled sailor, and a determined commander. Born in Northern Portugal, his parents were members of the nobility and Magellan was known as Fernando de Magellanes. Magellan led the first expedition to "circumnavigate" the world.

This three-year voyage began on September 8, 1519 in Seville, Spain with five ships, the Trinidad, San Antonio, Concepcion, Victoria, and Santiago. When the voyage ended on September 6, 1522, only one ship, the Victoria with Admiral Sebastian Del Cano and 18 of the original 270-crew members, returned to Seville. Magellan was killed on the Island of Mactan in the Philippines by its cheif Lapu Lapu and did not return to Spain with his ship.