John Smith was an English explorer, soldier, and colonial leader, born around 1579 in Willoughby, Lincolnshire, England, and baptized on January 6, 1580. He is best known for his pivotal role in the establishment and survival of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America, which was founded in 1607. Smith's early life involved military service in Europe, fighting against the Ottoman Turks in Hungary and Transylvania. He was knighted for his bravery and later became a slave after being captured by the Tartars. After escaping, he returned to England and joined the Virginia Company, which aimed to establish a colony in North America. In 1608, he became president of the council at Jamestown, implementing strict discipline and encouraging farming to ensure the colony's survival. His leadership helped reduce the death toll and improve living conditions, although his interactions with Native Americans were often contentious. Smith's explorations included mapping the Chesapeake Bay and parts of New England, which he named. He produced several influential works, such as "True Relation of Virginia" and "Generall Historie of Virginia," that promoted English colonization. In 1609, he was injured in a gunpowder explosion and returned to England for treatment, never to return to Virginia again. Despite his departure, his contributions to the colony's success and his writings about the New World remained significant. Today, John Smith is remembered as a key figure in American history, celebrated for his role in establishing Jamestown and his contributions to the exploration and mapping of North America. His legacy continues to be studied and debated by historians, with ongoing archaeological efforts at Jamestown reinforcing his historical accounts. John Smith died in London on June 21, 1631.