I hope to blog daily with real American heroes, and decided to start with one of our earliest. To quote Will Rogers - "the problem in America isn’t so much what people don’t know; the problem is what people think they know that just ain’t so" - hopefully these little entries will clear some of the confusion.

Captain John Smith

Most of us have seen the Disney animated film Pocahontas. A lovely little romance between star-crossed lovers - personally I found it a little heavy handed on the good natives, bad white guys, and environmental propaganda, but I digress. It was a sweet little story.

Then you actually look at the historical figure of Pocahontas and realize she was between 10 and 12 years old when she saved John Smith's life. Romance? Not so much. I will cover Pocahontas at another time. Today is for Captain John Smith.

Born around 1579 in Lincolnshire, England. Despite a small estate and a good apprenticeship with a merchant, he left England as a legal fugitive (for breaking the apprenticeship) with 10 shillings in his pocket and set out looking for adventure. He fled to France, fighting in the French army for awhile. He later served on an English ship fighting the Spanish over control of the Netherlands. He spent time as a pirate, and then became a soldier of fortune.

There was a time in his life when he owned exactly two books - The Bible and Machiavelli's Art of War. He fought in the "Long War" between the Christian Hapsburgs in Hungary and the Muslim Ottoman Turks. For his service and performance on the battlefield, he received a promotion to captain. He was a slave to a Turk for a short time before escaping with the help of the Turk's Greek mistress. He later wandered through Africa and Europe before returning to England in 1604 at around the age of 25.

He was a hardened, battle-tested soldier when he became involved with the plans to organize a permanent English settlement in the New World in 1606. They set up Jamestown in what would become Virginia. Smith was charged with finding food for the colonists, most of whom were gentlemen and their servants (looking for gold). Smith developed a good relationship with a local Indian tribe, but on one excursion he was taken prisoner

This brings the famous episode where he is sentenced to death by Powhatan. Smith later described Powhatan as a majestic figure who commanded respect. Pocahontas, a tenderhearted young girl, did indeed race in and shield Smith. This was apparently a common practice in the tribe's culture and there is some speculation on it being a ritual act of 'rebirth', but the main point is that Smith was spared and given new respect from the tribe through the actions of Pocahontas.

He returned to Jamestown in 1608, and was almost executed as a traitor. He was spared and spent his summer exploring the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers. Jamestown was facing disease and starvation - half the population was dead - and Smith was called upon to save them. He secured some corn from the Indians and had the remaining settlers doing some foraging. He also set up a strong policy of justice when it came to food - "You must now obey this for a Law, that he that will not worke shall not eate (except by sicknesse he be disabled) for the labours of thirtie or fortie honest and industrious men shall not be consumed to maintaine an hundred and fiftie idle loyterers." John Smith in The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles.

In 1609, despite his efforts having saved the settlement, a new leadership took control and he headed back to England. He was vilified on both sides of the Atlantic in spite of his achievements, but he didn't take the attack peacefully. He went on the offensive, issuing a rebuttal of the Virginia Company, its leadership, and its methods. The attempted character assassination failed.

He went back to the New World in 1614, exploring the area north of Jamestown. Although he did not bring back gold, he brought back fish, furs, and an accurate description and map of the area he called "New England". He poured a great deal of energy into the idea of a possible settlement in the area - citing its abundant natural resources. Captain John Smith put New England on the map before the Pilgrims ever made their famous landing.

When trying to go back to New England in 1615, he was captured and held prisoner by the French. He escaped and returned to England, never again to set foot in the New World. (The Pilgrims used his maps and descriptions.) He died in 1631, the recognized expert on the early English settlement of North America.

He should be a first rate American legend for his humane treatment of the American Indian tribes, his expert administration skills, his habit of heroism, and his fearless style of leadership. He is relegated instead to a footnote in American history - an explorer who had to be saved by a young girl.

Recommended reading:

The Life of Captain John Smith: The Founder of Virginia by William Gilmore Simms

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Real American Heroes by Brion McClanahan