Juan Elcano was a Spanish explorer. He accompanied Magellan when they became the first Europeans to reach the Philippines. Elcano returned to Spain and thus completed the first circumnavigation of the world.

SEBASTION ELCANO

Elcano was a merchant ship captain. After violating Spanish laws by surrendering a ship to Genoan bankers in repayment of a debt, he sought a pardon from the Spanish king Charles I, by signing on as a subordinate officer for the Magellan expedition to the East Indies.

He was spared by Ferdinand Magellan after taking part in a failed mutiny in Patagonia, and after five months of hard labour in chains, he was made captain of the galleon Concepcion.

After reaching the Philippines and the death of Magellan. The Victoria, commanded by Elcano along with 17 other European survivors of the 240 man expedition continued its westward voyage to Spain crossing the Indian, and Atlantic Ocean. They eventually reached Spain in September 1522.

In 1525, Elcano returned to sea, as a member of the Loaisa Expedition to claim the East Indies for king Charles I of Spain. Elcano and many other sailors died of malnutrition in the Pacific Ocean.

1486

to 4 August 1526