17th century Dutch East India Company map of the Strait of Magellan; a navigable sea route immediately south of mainland South America and north of Tierra del Fuego. Ferdinand Magellan (Portuguese: Fern縊 de Magalh綟s), a Portuguese sailor in the service of Charles I of Spain, became the first European to navigate the strait in 1520 during his global circumnavigation. Ferdinand Magellan (Portuguese: Fernabelis de Magalh ́s), a Portuguese sailor in the service of Charles I of Spain, became the first European to navigate the strait in 1520 during his global circumnavigation voyage.