July 20

García Jofre de Loaísa was born around 1490 in Spain and appointed by Emperor Charles V to command a Pacific expedition following Magellan's route. Setting sail in 1525, his fleet of seven ships ventured across the Atlantic and through the Strait of Magellan into the Pacific Ocean. The journey was plagued by storms, scurvy, and navigational challenges, decimating the crew and vessels. Loaísa reached the Marianas Islands in 1526 but succumbed to illness before making contact with the Spice Islands. His lieutenant, Juan Sebastián Elcano, continued the mission, ultimately returning to Spain with valuable geographical information. Although he died en route, Loaísa's expedition expanded Europe's understanding of the Pacific geography and trade routes.