Captain John Smith
Jamestown, Virginia
Created by:
Carolyn Busalacchi
“Every story has more than one side, and Smith was a manysided man.” Dennis Montgomery, CW Journal 1994
Who Was John Smith?
Captain John Smith is thought of as one of the first American heroes by many, and as the man who saved
Jamestown, Virginia and made it the first successful American settlement.
However, it is a challenge for us to know which parts of his life are fact and which are fiction. Many
believe he was a liar. Others believe the events in his life were, indeed, what he claimed them to be in his
many publications.
Let’s explore; who was Captain John Smith?
On the left, a 1609 sketch of
Captain Smith as viewed by his
admirers.
On the right, a cartoon version of
Smith created by Disney for the
movie Pocahontas.
What do you think of these
illustrations? Why do they look
so different?
Captain John Smith, the Explorer
What you may not know is that Smith's adventures started even before Jamestown.
John Smith’s adventures and travels reach from Europe to Africa and America, and were said to be
bold adventures that only the most courageous sailors attempted at the time. He was an eager
explorer, and was said to be one of the first to navigate New England’s coast. Prior to the
settlement of Jamestown, Smith was curious and optimistic about the colonization of America.
Captain John Smith is memorialized in this 1616 Simon van de
Passe engraving.
Landing in Jamestown
In England, Smith became involved with plans to colonize Virginia for
profit. King James I granted a charter for this colonization. On December
20, 1606, the three small ships set sail for Virginia. On May 13, 1607, 104
settlers landed at Jamestown ready to begin the task of surviving in a new
environment. Captain Smith was on the King’s list to lead the charter, and
so the adventure at Jamestown began.
Here are three ships commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown
settlement. Do you think the original ships looked similar to these? Why or why
not?
Hardships in Jamestown
During the first winter, there was a lack of fresh water in the colony. The spread of
disease made life in Jamestown very hard for the new settlers. It is said Algonquian
Indians attacked and made life almost impossible. The Indians were fearful of the
settlers, and by raiding their camps they hoped they would give up and leave.
Many say John Smith became leader of the colonists and did his best to fight off
the Indians. However, Smith would soon be captured!
Do you think the Indians attacked the settlers unprovoked? Is it possible that the
settlers were also harsh towards the Indians?
John Smith, Chief Powhatan and Pocahontas:
What happened?
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In December 1607, it is said that Smith and some companions met up with Indians while hunting in
the woods. The Indians captured Smith and brought him back to their powerful chief, Powhatan, to
decide his fate.
Powhatan thought Smith was intelligent and powerful, and he was very interested in the items he
carried with him such as a compass and some ivory.
The Indians held a ceremony in which Smith did not know his fate. He felt threatened and was
unsure if they were going to kill him.
Powhatan's 11 year old daughter, Pocahontas, took part in the ceremony.
John Smith was convinced afterward that Pocahontas had saved his life during that ceremony, but
Smith did not retell this story until years later.
Smith was released in friendship after about four weeks of captivity and returned to Jamestown,
guided by Indians.
Basically, this is the story we have heard about John Smith, Chief Powhatan and Pocahontas. We
have read it in books and seen it in movies such as Disney’s Pocahontas.
Why didn’t Smith know what was really going on in the ceremony? Why would young Pocahontas
want to save Smith’s life?
Below is an artist’s depiction of the events that occurred in December, 1607.
Let’s look closer at this painting and discuss what we see.
Problems are Growing!
Did Captain John Smith Save Jamestown?
Meanwhile, problems were strengthening within Jamestown due to the laziness of some
colonists and lack of supplies. Personal conflicts among Smith and various leaders, as well as
disagreements over new policies being formulated in London, added to the unease.
Therefore, Smith left Jamestown to explore and map the Chesapeake Bay region and search
for food.
Soon after, he instituted a policy of rigid discipline with this rule: "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 accidentally injured and had to return to England to get treatment.
He never returned to Jamestown, but the colony survived without his leadership.
John Smith- The Cartographer
Here is an example of a map created by John Smith. He created many maps of
the areas he explored.
Did You Know?
Of the first 104 English settlers at Jamestown in 1607, four
were boys. Several boys were sent to live with the
Powhatans so they could learn the language and customs
and then return to the English to become interpreters.
What other reasons do you think the English had to send
their children to live with the Indians?
What We Know….
• John Smith was known to be a
brave and boastful man.
• To many, he is considered to be
one of the first American heroes.
• He wrote many publications about
himself and his adventures.
• Some of his writings discussed
major events that occurred years
before. The story of Pocahontas
saving his life is one of them.
Watercolor Painting Of Captain John
Smith based on 17th Century Portraits
Let’s Skip to 1616: Nine Years Later
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In 1616, Captain John Smith learned that Pocahontas was coming to visit England with
her husband, John Rolfe. (Smith was back in England by this time)
Smith was worried that people would not treat her well when she arrived, so he wrote
a letter to Queen Anne to tell her about heroic events that occurred nine years earlier
In the letter, he reveals for the first time that Pocahontas saved his life and the lives of
many others at Jamestown.
Keep in mind that Smith was a well-respected explorer in England, so his word carried a
lot of weight.
Why do you think Smith waited so long to tell the story of Pocahontas saving his life?
Excerpt from Letter to Queen Anne:
1616
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…“So it is, that some ten years ago being in Virginia, and taken prisoner by the
power of Powhatan their chief King, I received from this great Salvage exceeding
great courtesy, especially from his son Nantaquaus, the most manliest, comeliest,
boldest spirit, I ever saw in a Salvage, and his sister Pocahontas, the Kings most
dear and well-beloved daughter, being but a child of twelve or thirteen years of
age, whose compassionate pitiful heart, of my desperate estate, gave me much
cause to respect her: I being the first Christian this proud King and his grim
attendants ever saw: and thus enthralled in their barbarous power, I cannot say I
felt the least occasion of want that was in the power of those my mortal foes to
prevent, notwithstanding all their threats. After some six weeks fatting amongst
those Salvage courtiers, at the minute of my execution, she hazarded the beating
out of her own brains to save mine; and not only that, but so prevailed with her
father, that I was safely conducted to Jamestown: where I found about eight and
thirty miserable poor and sick creatures, to keep possession of all those large
territories of Virginia; such was the weakness of this poor commonwealth, as had
the salvages not fed us, we directly had starved. And this relief, most gracious
Queen, was commonly brought us by this Lady Pocahontas.”…
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Captain John Smith, 1616
Disney’s Pocahontas
Here are the lyrics to a song from the movie Pocahontas. Do you think the English really felt this way about the
Indians they encountered when they arrived in America? Remember, John Smith speaks so highly of Pocahontas in
his letter to Queen Anne and they sent their only four boys to live with the tribe. Let’s discuss our thoughts on
this.
“Savages, Savages”
What can you expect
From filthy little heathens?
Their whole disgusting race is like a curse
Their skin's a hellish red
They're only good when dead
They're vermin, as I said
And worse.
They're savages! Savages!
Barely even human. Savages! Savages!
Drive them from our shore!
They're not like you and me
Which means they must be evil.
We must sound the drums of war!
Did You Know?
• In 1614, Smith returned to America in a voyage to
explore the coasts of Maine and Massachusetts.
During this voyage he names the region New
England with the approval of the King.
Captain John Smith named New England!
John Smith’s Map of New England- How does it compare to a
modern map of the area?
The Later Days of Captain Smith
While in London, Smith continued to help in the settlement of
Jamestown by supporting and promoting it. After his voyage to
New England, he was denied any other opportunities to return to
America due to his independent nature. He spent the rest of his life
writing his memoirs and advice until his death in 1631 at age 51.
It seems John Smith accomplished a lot in his 51 years. There is a
lot more to learn about John Smith: The man of debate, legend and
mystery.
A postage stamp from 1907 commemorating Smith. It was worth one cent.