Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer born in 1480 who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe between 1519 and 1522. He learned navigation skills as a youth and became the queen's messenger at age 12 after his wealthy parents died. Magellan led a fleet of five ships and 265 crew members, first exploring South America in 1520 before traveling across the Pacific Ocean, which he named. He was killed by poisoned arrow and spear in the Philippines in 1521, though his expedition became the first to sail around the entire world.