Juan Sebastián del Cano

Juan Sebastián del Cano, called El Cano (1476? -1526), Spanish navigator, born in Guetaria. In 1519 he was made captain of the Concepción, one of the five vessels commanded by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan during his expedition in the service of Spain. After the death of Magellan on April 27, 1521, Cano assumed command of the expedition. On September 6, 1522, he arrived in Spain on board the Victoria, becoming the first man to circumnavigate the earth, although Magellan is usually given credit for the voyage. Cano died off the western coast of South America while in command of a subsequent expedition.