Magellan Ferdinand

Ma·gel·lan

M0024800 (mə-jĕl′ən), Ferdinand 1480?-1521. Portuguese navigator. Seeking a western route to Asia (1519), Magellan and his Spanish expedition sailed through the strait that now bears his name (1520). He named and crossed the Pacific Ocean, reaching the Philippines (1521), where he died fighting for a local king. One of his ships returned to Spain (1522), completing the first circumnavigation of the globe.