John Smith (explorer)
English soldier and explorer who helped establish Jamestown.
John Smith (c. 1579 – 21 June 1631) was an English soldier, explorer, author, and admiral of New England. He was granted a coat of arms by Sigismund Báthory, Prince of Transylvania, but there is no evidence he was formally knighted. After returning to England from a career as a soldier of fortune and a period of enslavement, he became a key figure in founding Jamestown, Virginia—the first permanent English settlement in North America—in the early 1600s. He led the Virginia Colony from September 1608 to August 1609 and explored Virginia’s rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, mapping parts of that area that had not been fully charted by earlier English explorers. He later mapped the coast of New England.
Jamestown was founded on May 14, 1607. Smith enforced discipline and trade with Native Americans, which helped the colony survive its early struggles. He declared, “He that will not work, shall not eat,” referencing 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Harsh weather, scarce food and water, swampy terrain, and Native American attacks nearly destroyed the settlement, but Smith’s leadership helped it survive and eventually thrive. He was forced back to England after a gunpowder explosion in a canoe on the James River in 1609 injured him.
Smith’s books and maps encouraged English colonization of the New World. He popularized the name 'New England' on his 1616 map, though the region had been called that earlier and was officially named by Prince Charles in 1614. He wrote, “Here every man may be master and owner of his own labour and land. … If he have nothing but his hands, he may … by industries quickly grow rich.” He died in London in 1631.
His exact birth date is uncertain. He was baptized on January 6, 1580, in Willoughby, near Alford, Lincolnshire, where his parents rented a farm from Lord Willoughby. He claimed descent from the Smith family of Cuerdley, Lancashire, and attended King Edward VI Grammar School in Louth from 1592 to 1595. He was initially apprenticed to a merchant in the Hanseatic League port of King’s Lynn, Norfolk, but found the life of a tradesman unsuited to him. Biographer Peter Firstbrook suggests this brief apprenticeship sparked Smith’s adventurous spirit.
Smith went to sea at 16 after his father died. He fought as a mercenary for Henry IV of France against Spain, aiding Dutch independence from Philip II. He then sailed the Mediterranean, engaging in trad
- born
- c. 1579 (baptized 6 January 1580)
- died
- 21 June 1631
- field
- Exploration, colonization, military
- nationality
- English
- known_for
- Leadership at Jamestown, mapping Chesapeake Bay and New England, promoting English colonization
Lore & Background
Smith's early life included service as a mercenary in the army of Henry IV of France, fighting for Dutch independence, and later fighting against the Ottoman Turks in the Long Turkish War. He was promoted to cavalry captain while fighting for the Austrian Habsburgs in Hungary. He reputedly killed and beheaded three Ottoman challengers in single combat, for which he was granted a coat of arms by the Prince of Transylvania, though there is no evidence he was formally knighted. In 1602, he was wounded, captured, and sold as a slave, but escaped after killing his slavemaster, eventually reaching England in 1604.
In 1606, Smith became involved with the Virginia Company of London's plan to colonize Virginia. During the voyage, he was charged with mutiny and was under arrest for most of the trip
Reader's Guide
John Smith's significance lies in his role as a leader and promoter of early English colonization in North America. His leadership at Jamestown between September 1608 and August 1609 helped the colony survive harsh weather, lack of food, and attacks from Native Americans. He was the first English explorer to map the Chesapeake Bay area, and later explored and mapped the coast of New England, naming the region. His books and maps were important in encouraging and supporting English colonization of the New World. Smith stated that in New England, 'Here every man may be master and owner of his owner labour and land.' His legacy is complicated by the fact that his version of events, particularly the rescue by Pocahontas, is the only source and has been questioned by historians. Nonetheless, his contributions to the survival of Jamestown and to the geographic knowledge of the eastern seaboard were foundational to English settlement.
Did You Know?
- Smith was knighted for his services to Sigismund Báthory, Prince of Transylvania, and his friend Mózes Székely.
- He was forced to return to England after being injured by an accidental explosion of gunpowder in a canoe.
- Smith's earliest surviving account of his rescue by Pocahontas dates from 1616, nearly 10 years after the event.
- He named the region of New England.
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