5. Timeline of Ferdinand Magellan Ferdinand Magellan was born in Sabrosa, Portugal. 1480 1493 He went as a page at the Court of Lisbon. 1518 He left Portugal and went to Spain. 1519 Magellan’s small fleet set sail. 1521 The Victoria begun its long journey sailing around the tip of Africa. April 27 th , 1521 He died in the island of Mactan, Philippines.