Juan Sebastián Elcano

Juan Sebastián Elcano (or del Cano) (Guetaria, (Basque Country), Spain, 1476 – Pacific Ocean, August 4 1526) was a explorer. He commanded the first successful expedition to circumnavigate the globe in 1522.

Related Topics:
Guetaria - Basque Country - Spain - 1476 - Pacific Ocean - August 4 - 1526 - Explorer - Circumnavigate - Globe - 1522

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A merchant ship captain, Elcano violated Spanish law by surrendering a ship of his to Genoan bankers in repayment of a debt. Seeking a pardon from the Spanish King Charles I, he signed on, as a subordinate officer, to Ferdinand Magellan's expedition to circumnavigate the globe. Spared from execution by Magellan after taking part in a failed mutiny, Elcano was made captain of Conception, one of five vessels. Elcano went on to take command of the fleet when Magellan was killed in the Philippines, on April 27 1521.

Related Topics:
Genoan - Charles I - Ferdinand Magellan - April 27 - 1521

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On March 18, 1522, Elcano discovered Île Amsterdam in the southern Indian Ocean (now Southern Ocean), but did not name the island.

Related Topics:
March 18 - 1522 - Île Amsterdam - Indian Ocean - Southern Ocean

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On September 6, 1522, Elcano sailed into Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain, aboard the Victoria, along with 17 other European survivors of the 265 man expedition, and 4 (survivors out of 13) Tindorese Indians aboard. The profits resulting from the spices they carried made them rich. The king conceded him a coat of arms picturing a globe with the motto: Primus circumdedisti mihi (in Latin, "You were the first who went around me"). In fact, it was an East Asian native who was a servant of Magellan, that became the first man to circumnavigate the world when the fleet arrived to his home country.

Related Topics:
September 6 - Sanlúcar de Barrameda - ''Victoria'' - Tindorese - Indians - Spices - Coat of arms - Native

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1525, Elcano was a member of the Loaísa Expedition. He was appointed along with García Jofre de Loaísa as sea captains, who commanded 7 ships and sent to claim the East Indies for Spanish king Charles I. Both Elcano and Loaísa died of malnutrition in the Pacific Ocean while attempting a second circumnavigation of the planet.

Related Topics:
1525 - Loaísa Expedition - García Jofre de Loaísa - East Indies - Malnutrition - Pacific Ocean

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~