John Smith (1580 – 1631) was an English soldier, explorer and colonial governor who participated in the settlement at Jamestown, which became the first permanent one established by the British in the New World, at the beginning of the 17th century.
When Jamestown was settled in 1607, he taught other settlers how to farm and work the land, saving the colony from desvastation in its early years. He used the lemma: "He that will not work, shall not eat". The English newcomers were suffering harsh conditions at that time, as they did not have food or water, and also due to the wilderness that surrounded the settlement and the attacks of the native Indians. These conditions almost destroyed Jamestown but the leadership of John Smith was determinant in preserving the lives of his people and the colony.