Person

John Smith (explorer)

1580–1631 · 17th century · Also known as Captain John Smith

John Smith was an English soldier and explorer who helped found Jamestown in 1607 and led the Virginia colony as president of its council in 1608 and 1609. His leadership kept the struggling settlement alive through its early hardships. His writings, including the story of Pocahontas, and his maps of Virginia and New England shaped how the colonies were seen in England.

John Smith (explorer)
Image: Book by Capt. John Smith, engraver uncertain · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 1 profile

Powhatan ConfederacyMilitary, Impact, Summary

Mentioned in 1 state history

Susquehannock

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). John Smith (explorer). In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/john-smith-explorer
MLA
“John Smith (explorer).” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/john-smith-explorer. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “John Smith (explorer).” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/john-smith-explorer.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘John Smith (explorer)’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/john-smith-explorer (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻