John Smith, The English Explorer: a Biography

Explorer John Smith had a few quality characteristics that helped turn him into a very important person in the settlement of the New World. John Smith was known as being a very brave and strong man who lacked fear. When he was a young boy, he ran away from home to become a soldier in Europe. The young John Smith thrived to have excitement and also adventure in his life. He was young, but from an early age he was sure that he wanted to live a life filled with wonders.

During the settlement of Jamestown, he took on the responsibility of leadership by saving the colony from starvation, making the men plant crops and build themselves houses. John Smith was trading with the Indians for food. Soon afterwards, the colony decided to choose him to be president of the Jamestown settlement. He saved their lives; he was a hero to them. He was a strong leader and the settlers not only believed him, but also trusted him. While he was in Jamestown, he wrote about many of the accounts that happened. In 1614 he published an article about his voyage.

John Smith was not only a soldier, explorer, and writer, but he could also draw. He drew many maps, showing off the adventures that he took. Many of these maps were used by other groups of settlers who came to the New World. His name is probably best remembered as the man who was almost beheaded by Indians, when the chief's daughter rushed to his side and saved his life. The chief’s daughter was named Pocahontas, a name that is known by almost everyone (thanks to Disney).

He did have some struggles while being leader. In the early 1600’s (1608 to be exact) only 38 of the original 104 colonists were still living. The others had either died of severe illness or starvation. Supplies and food were scarce; they were very hard to come by. The supply ships came around soon, but over the next year and a half, Smith would lead many trading missions to acquire the needed food for the colony. Smith also led several expeditions to explore and map the Chesapeake Bay area. On one trip he caught a sting ray that stung and almost killed him. Smith has been close to death a few times, as you can probably tell.

Smith was a very strong man, and also a very strong leader. He fought to keep the people alive and he did whatever it took to make sure that food was provided. People usually refer to him as the “greatest explorer and leader of all time.” I believe that that statement is true. He’s one of the strongest leaders in history.

In 1609, John Smith was badly wounded by a gunpowder explosion. Smith decided to return to England, where he promoted the colonization of North America. In 1614 he made the big return to America, traveling to Maine and the Massachusetts Bay areas. He decided named the area “New England”. When Smith learned that Pocahontas arrived to England in 1616, he wrote a letter to Queen Anne telling her of Pocahontas friendship to the Virginia colony and asking that she was to be received as a royal visitor. Pocahontas was treated as a prince’s daughter and was respectfully received by the ladies in the Queen’s court. Smith also paid a short visit to Pocahontas while she was in England. The two had crossed into each other’s cultures more than any other Englishman or Indian woman had done.

Smith spent his remaining years in England writing books about America, which were later on published and enjoyed by millions. He lived off the rest of his years in peace, doing the things that he liked to do. John Smith passed away in 1631, he was 51 at the time.