SMITH, JOHN ( 1580-1631). A famous adven turer, colonist, and explorer, born at Willoughby, Lincolnshire, England. He was left an orphan at an early age. At the age of fifteen he ac companied the sons of an English nobleman on a tour of the Continent, as a page; but soon left them and enlisted under the Protestant banner in France. He served as a soldier of fortune in different lands, and, according to the memoirs which he published of his life, met with a series of wonderful and romantic adventures. The most remarkable of these incidents is his victory over three Turks, whom he asserts he slew on one occasion in single combat in Transylvania. For this achievement he claimed to have re ceived from the prince of that country a pen sion and a patent of nobility (which he pub lished in. the original Latin), empowering him to emblazon upon his shield the bleeding heads of three Turks. He was taken prisoner, be as serts, at the battle of Rothenthurm, was sold into slavery, was sent to Constantinople. finally killed his master, and escaped after being be friended by a Turkish lady. Upon his return to England in 1605 he was induced to take part in the colonization of Virginia, and sailed with the expedition fitted out for this purpose in 1606. He was named a member of the Council to direct the affairs of the infant community in the secret list prepared hefore the departure of the ships, but during the voyage he was imprisoned on at charge of sedition. On the arrival of the vessels, when the sealed instructions were opened, he was not allowed to take his seat. He indignantly demanded an immediate trial, which was finally accorded. He established his innocence, but the jealousy of his comrades still excluded him from his seat. But his military reputation, and his fiery spirit, tempered by prudence and sagacity, soon made his influence felt, and his advice was often sought by the authorities.
He was sent on several expeditions for forage and discovery among the Indians, and dis tinguished himself by the ability with which he conducted them. After the first trip of discov ery he was, in June, 1607, admitted to the Coun cil. It was on one of these occasions, in De cember, 1607, that he was captured by the Indian chief Powhatan (q.v.). The story which
lie relates of the young Indian maiden Poca hontas, the daughter of Powhatan, who, when he was condemned to death by the savage chief tain, saved his life by her interposition, is now discredited by perhaps a large majority of care ful historians. (See POCAHONTAS.) After a period of turbulence and disaster, Smith's in fluence became paramount in Jamestown. Dur ing another of his journeys, in the summer of 1608, he explored Chesapeake Bay as far as the Patapsco, and made a map of the bay and the ad country. He was elected president of the Council in September, 160S, and several times seems to have saved the colony from ruin by his decision, sagacity, and force of char acter. In his dealings with the Indians be showed himself an astute and unscrupulous poli tician, and a valiant soldier, who became at once an adept in all the peculiarities of Indian war fare. His services were not sufficiently appre ciated, and upon the grant of a new charter and the reorganization of the he re turned to England at the of 1609. broken in health and poor in purse. He was sent out on various voyages of discovery, and in 1614 made a fairly complete exploration of the New England coast from the Penobscot to Cape Cod. To the same end he twice sailed in 1615. the first time being driven back by bad weather and the second time being captured by the French. He was given the title of 'Admiral of New Eng land.' and made ineffective efforts to secure means to enable him to plant a colony in New England. After this his attention was directed chiefly to literary pursuits. Be died in London, and was buried in the choir of Saint Sepulchre's Church.
His two really historical works are his True Relation, published in 1608 (the best edition be ing that edited by Charles Deane. Boston, 1867), and his General Historic of Virginia, New Eng land, and The Summer Isles, published in 1624. Three other works of importance are his Naps of Virginia ( 1612 ) his Description of New Eng land (1616), and his New England's Trials (1620). The only comprehensive edition of Smith's Works is that by E. Arber (Birming ham, 1884; Westminster, 1S95). Charles Dud ley Warner has written a short study of Smith's Life and Writings (New York, 1881).