The Life of John Smith: Virginia's First Hero

In this episode, Will tells the tale of the life of John Smith, the mercenary-turned-explorer who was the first great Virginia hero. This is the tale of how Smith won his knighthood by defeating three Ottoman Turks in single combat, how he ended up as a leader in the original settlement of Virginia, and how his lasting legacy was the map he made out of his own explorations. Will also discusses why Pocahontas saved John Smith, how Smith saved Jamestown, and his legacy in mapping New England, along with why he died in relative obscurity.

Listen ad-free and access the transcript here: ⁠https://www.theamericantribune.news/p/the-life-of-john-smith-virginias⁠

Sources Referenced in this Episode:

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• Smith, Captain John: The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles., https://amzn.to/49H3hxR

• Willison, George F.: Behold Virginia: The Fifth Crown, https://amzn.to/4do9YG4

• Dabney, Virginius: Virginia: The New Dominion, https://amzn.to/4dtAE8l

• Andrews, Matthew Page: Virginia: The Old Dominion, Vol. I, https://amzn.to/4uZBW2h

• Bruce, Philip Alexander: The Virginia Plutarch, Vol I, https://amzn.to/437cAU0

• Morton, Richard L.: Colonial Virginia, https://amzn.to/4ua3bqY

• Andrews, Matthew Page: The Soul of a Nation: The Founding Of Virginia and the Projection of New England, https://amzn.to/4d9Ut60

Timestamps

0:00 John Smith Saves Virginia: He Who Does Not Work, Neither Shall He Eat at Jamestown

4:36 The Humble Origins of John Smith

5:55 John Smith Becomes a European Mercenary

7:33 How John Smith Became a Legend

10:02 John Smith Becomes a Slave of the Ottoman Turks

14:04 How John Smith Joined the Virginia Company, and the Virginia Expedition

15:40 Smith and Bartholomew Gosnold

18:05 John Smith Feuds With Everyone

20:09 Smith Is Saved

21:33 Jamestown Is Founded, and Disaster Begins

22:40 Smith is Saved by Pocahontas

25:29 John Smith Maps Virginia

29:41 John Smith and Indian Diplomacy

34:07 John Smith Saves Jamestown

36:11 Smith's Style of Negotiating with the Indians

38:11 Smith's Enemies Return, and He Must Leave

43:40 Smith Maps New England

45:11 The Pilgrims Don't Like John Smith

46:14 The End of John Smith's Life

Image credit: Public Domain unless otherwise stated

John Smith Coat of Arms: Glasshouse using elements by Heralder, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Richard Croft / St.Helena's church