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Smith (JOHN an English adventurer)

JOHN, an English adventurer, the founder of Virginia; born in Willoughby, in Lincolnshire, England, in January, 1579. Of a daring spirit, longing for a larger and more adventurous life, he early served in the Netherlands as a soldier in the cause of liberty. He then traveled in France, visited Egypt and Italy, and, about 1602, greatly distinguished himself in the wars of Hungary against the Turks, gaining the favor of Sigismund Bathori, Prince of Transylvania. Wounded and taken prisoner by the Turks, he was sold as a slave, was harshly treated in the Crimea, and made his escape. Rumors of war in Morocco attracted him thither, and thence he returned to England about 1606.

Smith entered with enthusiasm into the project of colonizing the New World, and with Gosnold, Wingfield, Hunt, and others set out in December, 1606, with a squadron of three small vessels for Virginia, under the authority of a charter granted by James I. Amid the unhappy dissen sions, difficulties, and distress of the first years of the great enterprise, Smith ren- ( dered the most important services by his irrepressible hopefulness, practical wisdom, and vigorous government. But for his wisdom and noble exertions the project would probably have been abandoned .

He made important geographical explorations and discoveries. In 1607, ascending the Chickahominy, and penetrating into the interior of the country, Smith and his comrades were captured by the Indians , and he only, by his rare selfpossession, escaped with life. He remained a prisoner for some weeks, carefully observed the country, got some knowledge of language of the natives, and when at last they were going to put him to death he was saved by the affectionate pleading of Pocahontas, the daughter of the chief, Powhatan, a girl 10 or 12 years old. Reconducted to Jamestown, Smith had need of all his energy to cheer the desponding colonists. In the summer of 1608 he explored in an open boat the Bay of Chesapeake and its tributary rivers, a navigation of nearly 3,000 miles. He also penetrated inland, established friendly relations with the Indians, and prepared a with the Indians, and prepared map of the country. On his return from this great expedition he was made president of the colonial council. In 1609 he was severely injured by an accidental explosion of gunpowder, and without reward for his splendid services, except in his own conscience and the applause of the world, returned to England. He visited Virginia in 1614, was captured by the French in the following year, and on his return to London after three months heard of the arrival of his Indian friend Pocahontas. Smith made known her serv- SMITH ices, and she was presented to Queen Elizabeth and loaded with marks of honor and gratitude. Smith published in 1608 "A True Relation of Such Occurrences and Accidents of Note as Hath Happened in Virginia Since the First Planting of That Colony." He died in London, June 21, 1631.