Ferdinand Magellan

The Portuguese navigator led the first expedition to circumnavigate the Earth, departing Spain in 1519 with five ships and 270 men. Magellan himself was killed in the Philippines in 1521, but one surviving ship under Juan Sebastian Elcano completed the circuit, returning to Spain in 1522 with only 18 men. The expedition proved the Earth was round and revealed the true immensity of the Pacific Ocean — a body of water so large it came as a complete shock to European geographical understanding. Magellan gave the Pacific its name, describing its calm waters during his crossing.