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The Story of Magellan and the Discovery of the Philippines

Hezekiah Butterworth

A juvenile biography telling the story of Magellan's voyage and the discovery of the Philippines, written for young readers long after his death.

A children's storytelling account of Magellan's voyage, showing how his story was passed on to young readers.

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Full text (public-domain edition)

About this source

What it is

This book by Hezekiah Butterworth tells the story of Ferdinand Magellan's voyage and the discovery of the Philippines. It was written as part of a series of illustrated historical tales for young readers, long after the events it describes.

Why it matters

Books like this shaped how generations of students learned about explorers such as Magellan, often simplifying or dramatizing events to make them exciting for children. It shows how historical figures become part of popular storytelling, which can differ from more careful historical accounts.

Look closer

  • Why might a book written for children tell Magellan's story differently than an encyclopedia entry?
  • What parts of the story might be emphasized to make it more exciting, and what might be left out?
  • How can you tell the difference between a historical account and a storytelling version of history?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Ferdinand Magellan on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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