John Smith

Timeline

1. 1607–1609Jamestown · VirginiaArrived at the mouth of the James River with the expedition in May 1607 to establish the settlement, imposing labor discipline and trade policies during the Starving Time. Twice president of the colony in 1608, he negotiated with the Powhatan Confederacy for food and explored the Chesapeake Bay basin seeking navigable routes and resources.
2. 1609–1610London · EnglandAfter returning to England wounded in 1609, he reported colonial experience to the Virginia Company and lobbied for continued investment. During this period he compiled his Chesapeake Bay exploration records and published A Map of Virginia in 1612, promoting the prospects of North American colonization in text and images and shaping later perceptions of Virginia.