John Smith

Smith, John (1580?–1631), English soldier who helped found the first successful English colony in America, in 1607. As president of the colony— Jamestown, Va.—Smith enforced organization and discipline among the settlers. His harsh treatment of Native Americans, however, contributed to hostilities between the groups. Late in life, he wrote several books about his experiences, one of which was the source of the story of his capture by Powhatan and last-minute rescue by Pocahontas.