, commonly called Capt. John Smith, or Smyth, was born at Willoughby in
, commonly called Capt. John Smith,
or Smyth, was born at Willoughby in the county of Lincoln, but descended from the Smyths of Cuerdley. He
ranks with the greatest travellers and adventurers of his
age, and was distinguished by his many achievements in
the fpur quarters of the globe. In the wars of Hungary
about 1602, in three single combats he overcame three
Turks, and cut off their heads, for which and other gallant
exploits Sigismund, duke of Transylvania, under whom he
served, gave him his picture set in gold, with a pension of
three hundred ducats: and allowed him to bear three
Turks heads proper as his shield of arms. He afterwards
went to America, where he was taken prisoner by the Indians,
from whom he found means to escape. He often hazarded
his life in naval engagements with pirates, Spanish men of
war, and in other adventures, and had a considerable hand
in reducing New-England to the obedience of Great Britain, and in reclaiming the inhabitants from barbarism. If
the same, which is very probable, who is mentioned in
Stow’s “Survey of London,
” under the name of “Capt.
John Smith, some time governor of Virginia and admiral
of New-England,
” he died June 21, 1631, and was buried
at St. Sepulchre’s church, London. There is a ms life of
him, by Henry Wharton in the Lambeth library, but his
exploits may be seen in his “History of Virginia, NewEngland, and the Summer Isles,
” written by himself, and
published at London in A Map of Virginia, with a description of the
country, the commodities, people, government, and religion,
” Oxon. New-England’s Tryals, &c.
”
Lond. Travels in Europe, &c.
” ibid.