When people ask what year did Magellan circumnavigate the globe, the historically accurate answer requires a small but important correction: Ferdinand Magellan himself never completed the journey. The expedition he commanded set sail from Spain in 1519, but Magellan died in the Philippines in 1521. Now, the voyage was finished in 1522 by Juan Sebastián Elcano, who returned to Spain with a single ship and 18 survivors. Understanding the exact timeline of this landmark voyage helps separate myth from fact and highlights one of the greatest achievements in the Age of Exploration It's one of those things that adds up. Simple as that..
The Short Answer: What Year Did Magellan Circumnavigate the Globe?
If you are looking for a specific date, the circumnavigation was completed in 1522. Here's the thing — he led the expedition from its departure in 1519 until his death in 1521. The remaining crew, under the command of Juan Sebastián Elcano, finished the journey and arrived back in Spain on September 6, 1522. Even so, Magellan did not personally circle the Earth. Which means, the year most associated with the completion of the first circumnavigation is 1522, even though Magellan’s name is the one most often remembered.
The Voyage Began in 1519
The expedition that would eventually circle the globe departed on September 20, 1519, from San
