Juan Sebastián Elcano

c. 1487 – 4 August 1526

Juan Sebastián Elcano (c. 1487-1526) was a Spanish Basque navigator who completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth. After Ferdinand Magellan's death in the Philippines, Elcano took command of the ship Victoria and brought it back to Spain in 1522. He died in 1526 during the Loaísa expedition in the Pacific.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Juan Sebastián Elcano.

Life events

Born in Getaria, in the Basque Country of Spain
c. 1487

Elcano was born around 1486-1487 in the fishing town of Getaria in Gipuzkoa.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Worked as a ship owner and fought in Mediterranean campaigns
c. 1509

Elcano captained a merchant ship and served in campaigns in Italy and North Africa before falling into debt and surrendering his ship to Genoese creditors.

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Joined Magellan's expedition as master of the Concepción
10 August 1519

Elcano signed on to the Armada of the Moluccas, the Spanish expedition led by Ferdinand Magellan to reach the Spice Islands by sailing west.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Took part in the mutiny at San Julián and was pardoned
April 1520

Elcano participated in the Easter mutiny against Magellan in Patagonia but was spared execution and sentenced to hard labor.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Passed through the Strait of Magellan into the Pacific
28 November 1520

The expedition navigated the strait at the tip of South America and entered the ocean Magellan named the Pacific.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Took command of the Victoria after Magellan's death
September 1521

Following Magellan's death at Mactan and further losses, Elcano was chosen to command the Victoria for the voyage home from the Moluccas.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth
6 September 1522

Elcano brought the Victoria and 18 surviving crewmen into Sanlúcar de Barrameda, completing the first voyage around the world.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Granted a coat of arms with the motto 'Primus circumdedisti me'
1523

Emperor Charles V rewarded Elcano with a pension and a coat of arms bearing a globe and the motto 'You were the first to encircle me'.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Joined the Loaísa expedition to the Moluccas as second-in-command
24 July 1525

Elcano sailed as chief pilot and second-in-command of the expedition of García Jofre de Loaísa, which departed A Coruña in July 1525.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died at sea in the Pacific Ocean
4 August 1526

Elcano died of malnutrition, probably scurvy, while crossing the Pacific on the Loaísa expedition, days after Loaísa himself.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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