CIRCUMNAVIGATORS- Part 1
These daring people who convinced themselves that the world is round.
The first circumnavigator as we all know was the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. He is considered by most scholars as the greatest navigational feat in history. He managed to convince Charles V, the king of Spain to grant him the chance of finding a new way to the Spice Islands. He set sail from Seville in 1519 and discovered the Southern Strait in 1520 that would later bear his name- “ The Magellan Strait”. He also named the ocean “Pacific’ meaning peaceful. After several months the fleet reached Philippines in 1521. He was killed in raid by a local tribe. The circumnavigation was completed even without its leader as “Victoria”, one of the five ships that left Spain, succeed in getting back. The story of the first voyage around the world was recorded by Italian Antonio Pigafetta, one of 18 lucky members of the expedition who made it back.
The second circumnavigation was undertaken by one of the greatest English sea captain ever- Sir Francis Drake. He was a privateer, explorer and a slave trader. He successfully circumnavigated the world in a single expedition, from 1577-1580. ‘ Golden Hind’ is the name of his ship which made it possible. A full sized sea worthy reconstruction exists in London on the South Bank of the Thames. After his return he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth aboard his ship.
From the second half of the 17th century up to the first decade of the 18th century, the oceans were terrorized by pirates. From their headquarters in Tortuga Island-Haiti, the pirates ventured in great expeditions in search for the rich Spanish Galleon. Part of these voyages ending up as circumnavigations with important geographical discoveries. Interestingly one pirate even had literary talent as his memories describing his travels around the world are considered to be one of the best travel writings ever. He was William Dampier. His book “ A new voyage around the world” published in 1697, was a real success for it was reedited three times in less than 2 years. It describes his first circumnavigation ( 1679-1691), but there were two more to come. The second one was made between 1703-1706 and may have been considered a failure from his point of view because hi ship was captured by the Dutch on the way back. His third and final travel around the Globe ( 1708-1711) took place under the command of another famous pirate- Woodes Rogers. This voyage is notable for the rescuing of Alexander Selkrik, whose adventures inspired ‘ Robinson Crusoe’
Captain James Cook’s journeys around the world may be the most prolific of all circumnavigations regarding the Geographical discoveries. His first circumnavigation (1768-71) was made aboard ‘The Endeavour’. The mystery of the ‘southern continent’ as partly revealed as he reached and chartered the eastern coats of New Zealand and Australia. In his second journey (1772-74) he became the first explorer to cross the Polar Circle. He discovered an archipelago that today bears his name-“Cook Islands”. In his third circumnavigation ( 1776-79) it was revealed that there was no passage between the Atlantic and Pacific. Along his way North, he discovered the Hawaiian islands.
During the 18th & 19th century, the circumnavigation became more frequent. With the Krusenstern’s expedition, the Russians also engaged In the circumnavigation race. One of the most important Russian voyages explored the remote waters around the Antarctic continent. This expedition was commanded by F.Bellinghausen and M.P. Lazareev. The aim of the voyage was to explore the southern part of the Pacific to record astronomical, meterological and oceanographical observations. Bellinghausen was one of the preeminent navigators of his time and participated in the Krusenstern circumnavigation. His second in command, Lazareev was also an experienced navigator who had previously volunteered in British Commercial voyage around the world. The expedition diminished the doubts about navigating the treacherous Antarctic waters. They are also credited for being the first navigators who spotted the coast of the frozen continent.