Ferdinand Magellan (1480–1521) – Portugal

Ferdinand Magellan (1480–1521), the Portuguese explorer sailing for Spain, organized the first circumnavigation of the Earth, though he died before completing it. His 1519 expedition proved the globe could be circled by sea, discovering the Strait of Magellan and crossing the Pacific Ocean. While his crew completed the historic journey, Magellan was killed in the Philippines during a tribal conflict. His voyage revolutionized European understanding of global geography, established new trade routes, and demonstrated the vast scale of the Pacific, forever changing maritime exploration and world commerce.