Image: Wikimedia Commons

John Smith

English soldier, explorer, writer (1580–1631)

PersonDied aged 51humanQ228024

Also known as Captain John Smith

Born: January 6, 1580
1
Sources
1.Stated in Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija OnlineRetrieved 2026-02-02
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Died: June 21, 1631
Birthplace: Willoughby
Place of death: London
Citizenship: Kingdom of England
Occupation: explorer
, military personnel
2
Sources
1.“1606: Jamestown, Virginia”bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/empire/episodes/episode_18.shtml
2.“Capt. John Smith -- Rock Star”washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/08/AR2007050801312.htmlRetrieved 2021-03-03
View statement on Wikidata ↗
, writer
2
Sources
1.Stated in Library of the World's Best Literature
2.Stated in Integrated Authority FileRetrieved 2026-04-20
View statement on Wikidata ↗
+5 more
Positions held: colonial governor of Virginia(1608–1609)
Education: King Edward VI Grammar School(1592–1595)

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

John Smith was an English soldier, explorer, admiral of New England, and author. He was knighted for his services to Sigismund Báthory, Prince of Transylvania, and his friend Mózes Székely. Following his return to England from a life as a soldier of fortune and as a slave, he played an important role in the establishment of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in North America, in the early 17th century. He was a leader of the Virginia Colony between September 1608 and August 1609, and he led an exploration along the rivers of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay, during which he became the first English explorer to map the Chesapeake Bay area. Later, he explored and mapped the coast of New England.

Overview

Life at a glance

Positions, education, employers and awards over time

Spans and dates from Wikidata qualifiers (start/end/point in time). Hover for details; click to open.

Author of

4 linked to John Smith in Wikidata

All data

123 statements · 28% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Sex or gender: male
1
Sources
1.Stated in Integrated Authority FileRetrieved 2024-07-18
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Given name: John
1
Sources
1.Stated in Integrated Authority FileRetrieved 2015-08-14
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Family name: Smith
1
Sources
1.Stated in Integrated Authority FileRetrieved 2015-08-14
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Place of burial: St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, Holborn
Date of baptism: January 6, 1580
Military, police or special rank: soldier
2
Sources
1.“1606: Jamestown, Virginia”bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/empire/episodes/episode_18.shtml
2.“Capt. John Smith -- Rock Star”washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/08/AR2007050801312.htmlRetrieved 2021-03-03
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Writing language: English
Native language: English
Different from: John Smith
Commons Creator page: John Smith (1580-1631)
Motto: Vincere est vivere
Participated in conflict: Eighty Years' War
Long War

On other databases

88 identifiers linking John Smith across the web's reference databases

Data quality

123

statements

28%

externally sourced

Source last edited October 7, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). John Smith (Q228024). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/john-smith-Q228024