Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer (who later obtained Spanish citizenship) who is thought to have been the first to sail around the world. He left Spain on that voyage in 1519, with the aim of reaching south-east Asia by sailing across the Atlantic Ocean and finding a way through to the Pacific Ocean from there. He found a route around South America which was later named the Magellan Strait, after him. He named the Pacific Ocean, so called because it was calm when he reached it. He reached Asia, but was killed in the Philippines. Only 18 men out of the 260 strong crew that had left Spain survived the voyage around the globe to return home.
Francis Drake was a British explorer. He wanted to expand the power of the British internationally, seeking out new markets and trading routes. He attacked Spanish ships returning to Europe from their own conquests in South America, with cargoes of treasures that he shared with the British Queen Elizabeth I. Between 1577 and 1580 he sailed around the world. During the journey, he attacked and plundered Spanish ports in South America, landed in California and claimed it for Britain, and made some important navigational discoveries. These included establishing that South America was not connected to a southern continent, as had been thought previously.
Walter Raleigh was a British explorer who sailed to North America on a colonizing and trading expedition in 1585. He founded a settlement in North Carolina, which he named Virginia after Queen Elizabeth I, the 'Virgin Queen'. The colony later failed due to lack of food and fights with the indigenous people. He is credited by many with bringing potatoes and tobacco to Europe, although both had already been discovered by Spanish explorers.
Giovanni da Verrazzano was an Italian sailor who is famous for his exploration of North America. He sailed on behalf of the King Francis I of France, attacking Portuguese and Spanish ships as a pirate. In 1522 he was sent by King Francis on an exploration voyage to North America. He explored the coast of North Carolina, Maine, Cape Fear, Nova Scotia and New York Bay. He is thought to be the first European to sail into New York Bay. After returning from this voyage, he undertook two more trips to the Americas before being executed for piracy by the Spanish in 1527.
