Quick Facts Profession: Explorer Famous for: discovering a route between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans to the Spice Islands in Indonesia Born: 1480, in Sabrosa, Portugal Died: April 27, 1521, in Mactan, Cebu, The Philippines Married: Beatriz Barbosa
A new way around the world
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Ferdinand Magellan was born in Portugal into an influential family. His parents died when he was 10 and he was sent to the queen's court. When he was 12, he became a page for the queen. The job allowed him to learn about all the new discoveries that were being made in the world.
He went to sea in 1505 when he was 25 and travelled to India. It was not clear what he did, but he was away for eight years. In 1511, he joined Portuguese troops on a journey of conquest to Malaysia. They conquered Malacca in August that year. One of his friends carried on to the Spice Islands. The letters he sent to Magellan about the place would change the explorer's life.
Back in Portugal, Magellan fell out of favour with the court. He spent his time studying naval charts. At that time, the only way to reach the Pacific was by going around Africa. The Portuguese controlled this route. But Magellan wondered if it was possible to reach the Spice Islands by going west around the newly discovered Americas, not east.