Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer best known for leading the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe. Born in 1480, he set sail in 1519 under the Spanish flag, seeking a westward route to the Spice Islands. His journey was fraught with challenges, including treacherous waters and conflicts with indigenous peoples. Magellan's expedition ultimately proved that the Earth is round and significantly expanded European knowledge of the world. Although he was killed in the Philippines in 1521, his fleet continued the journey, returning to Spain in 1522, thus completing the first circumnavigation of the Earth.