NPS image based on Smith's 17th-century portrait

Captain John Smith

Virginians know that Captain John Smith was one of the first American heroes. But because he was a proud and boastful man, it is difficult to determine which parts of his life are fact and which are fiction. What many people may not know is that Smith's adventures started even before Jamestown.

Born in 1580 in Willoughby, England, John Smith left home at age 16 after his father died. He began his travels by joining volunteers in France who were fighting for Dutch independence from Spain. Two years later, he set off for the Mediterranean Sea, working on a merchant ship. In 1600, he joined Austrian Forces to fight the Turks in the "Long War." A valiant soldier, he was promoted to Captain while fighting in Hungary. He was fighting in Transylvania two years later in 1602. There he was wounded in battle, captured, and sold as a slave to a Turk. This Turk then sent Smith to Istanbul as a gift to his sweetheart. According to Smith, this girl fell in love with him and sent him to her brother to get training for the Turkish imperial service. Smith reportedly escaped by murdering the brother, and he returned to Transylvania by fleeing through Russia and Poland. After being released from service and receiving a large reward, he travelled throughout Europe and Northern Africa. He returned to England in the winter of 1604-05.

Captain John Smith's American adventures began at this time. Apparently restless in England, Smith became actively involved with the Virginia Company's plans to colonize Virginia for profit. The expedition, composed of three ships, set sail on December 20, 1606, and finally reached Virginia in April 1607, after enduring a lengthy voyage of over four months. When the sealed box that listed the names of the seven council members who were to govern the colony was opened, Smith's name was on the list. On May 13, 1607 the settlers landed at Jamestown ready to begin the task of surviving in a new environment.

The harsh winter, lack of fresh water, and the spread of disease made life in Jamestown difficult for the settlers. Attacks by the native Powhatan Indians made life almost impossible. The Indians, hoping that the settlers would give up and leave, raided their camps, stealing pistols, gunpowder and other necessary supplies. John Smith became leader of the colonists and did his best to fight off the Indians.

In December 1607, Indian deer hunters ambushed Smith and some companions. After killing the other Englishmen, the Indians carried Smith back to their powerful chief, Powhatan, to decide his fate. Powhatan was apparently greatly impressed by Smith's self-confidence. He was also fascinated by the mystical instruments which Smith carried with him, such as an ivory and glass pocket compass. Smith was questioned about his colony and then made to take part in some sort of ritual or trial, after which, in keeping with an Indian custom, he was made a subordinate chief in the tribe.

Powhatan's 11 year old daughter took part in the ceremony in some way. Smith was constantly unsure of his fate, and he was convinced afterward that Pocahontas had saved his life. Smith was released in friendship after about four weeks of captivity and returned to Jamestown, guided by Indians.

Meanwhile, dissent within the colony fermented due to laziness, lack of supplies, and periodic attempts at desertion by many of the colonists. Personal conflicts, as well as disagreements over new policies being formulated in London, developed among Smith and various leaders. As a result, Smith left Jamestown to explore and map the Chesapeake Bay region and search for badly needed food supplies. Due to bad government and near chaos, Smith eventually became president of the local council in September 1608. He instituted a policy of rigid discipline, strengthened defenses and encouraged farming with this admonishment: "He who does not work, will not eat." Because of his strong leadership, the settlement survived and grew during the next year. Unfortunately, Smith was accidently injured by a gunpowder burn and had to return to England for treatment in October 1609, never to return to Virginia again.

In London, he actively promoted the further colonization of Virginia, but he was unpopular with the Virginia Company.

In April 1614, he returned to the New World in a successful voyage to the Maine and Massachusetts Bay areas. With the approval of Prince Charles, he named this region New England. He was denied further opportunities to return to America due to his independent nature, and he spent the rest of his life writing books until his death in 1631 at age 51.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Armstrong, W. C. The Life and Adventures of Captain John Smith. Hartford: Silas Andrus & Son, 1855.

Barbour, Philip L., ed. The Complete Works of Captain John Smith, (1580-1631). Chapel Hill, N.C. and London: The University of North Carolina Press, 1986.

CREATED, REVISED, REVIEWED, EDITED:

Boyd Brown
College of William and Mary
Fall 1986

Revised by Jen Loux
William and Mary Intern
November 1995