Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who led the first circumnavigation of the Earth. He was born in Portugal in 1480 and served in the Portuguese navy for many years before seeking funding from the Spanish crown for his expedition. Magellan set sail from Spain in 1519 with five ships and a crew of around 270 men. His goal was to find a new trade route to the Spice Islands in the East Indies by sailing westward around South America. After a difficult voyage through the Atlantic and ar...