Why was john smith important?
John Smith is important because he was known for being part of the establishment of the first English settlement in North America. He was also the leader of the Virginia Colony which was based in Jamestown. He also mapped the Chesapeake Bay area, as well as New England. Besides being an explorer, he was an author. His books and maps was able to prove the existence of a New World. He named the region New England and encouraged people to move there. Colonizer and publicist. During his two years in America, Smith was principally responsible for the survival of England’s first permanent colony in the New World. His bold leadership, military experience, and determination brought a measure of discipline to the dissolute colonists; his negotiations with the Indians prevented starvation; and his dispersal of the colony from unhealthy Jamestown lowered mortality. After his return to England, his promotional writings contributed significantly to English efforts for an American empire.