After 38 days, an expedition under the command of Ferdinand Magellan completes the first passage through the Strait of Magellan and enters the Pacific Ocean

Ferdinand Magellan (1480–1521) was a Portuguese explorer renowned for his groundbreaking expedition that led to the first circumnavigation of the globe, although he did not complete the journey himself. Sponsored by Spain, Magellan set sail in 1519 with five ships, aiming to discover a western sea route to the Spice Islands (present-day Maluku Islands in Indonesia). His voyage was marked by significant challenges, including mutinies, treacherous waters, and unfamiliar territories. Magellan is credited with discovering the strait that now bears his name—the Strait of Magellan—navigating through South America’s southern tip into the Pacific Ocean, which he named due to its calm waters. Tragically, Magellan was killed in 1521 in the Philippines during a conflict with local inhabitants. Despite his death, his fleet, under the leadership of Juan Sebastián Elcano, completed the expedition in 1522, proving that the Earth could be circumnavigated and revolutionizing European navigation and global trade.