| Timeline |
| 1580 |
Born in Willoughby, England (baptised 9 January) |
| 1596 |
Father dies, Smith decides to "go to sea"; becomes a soldier, fighting for Dutch independence from Spain |
| 1599 |
travels to France and Italy, touring the Mediterranean Sea on a merchant ship
|
| 1600 |
Joins Austrian forces to fight the Turks in the "Long War" |
| 1602 |
Fighting in Transylvania, taken captive and sold for a slave |
| 1603 |
Kills his master and escapes |
| 1604 |
Returns to England |
| 1606 |
Actively involved with plans to colonize Virginia for profit by the Virginia Company |
| 1607 |
Arrives in Virginia (spends 4 months in captivity with the Algonquian Indians in December) |
| 1608 |
Elected president of the local council; A True Relation of such occurrences and accidents of note as hath hapned in Virginia since the first planting of that Colony published |
| 1609 |
Injured in a firearms accident, Smith returns to England |
| 1612 |
A Map of Virginia published |
| 1614 |
Travels to he Maine and Massachusetts Bay areas, which he names "New England" |
| 1615 |
Failed attempt to settle at Capawuck |
| 1616 |
A Description of New England published |
| 1617 |
Another attempt to settle at Capawuck fails |
| 1618 |
Applies to Francis Bacon as servant - is rejected |
| 1619 |
Offers to lead the Pilgrims to Virginia - is rejected in this as well |
| 1620 |
New England’s Trials published (second edition in 1622) |
| 1624 |
Writes Generall Historie of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles |
| 1626 |
An Accidence for all Young Seamen published |
| 1630 |
Writes The True Travels, Adventures, and Observations of Captaine John Smith in Europe, Asia, Africa and America |
| 1631 |
Advertisements for the Unexperienced Planters published; Smith dies 21 June |
