Final answer:
The captain who described Virginia as "overgrown with trees and weeds, being a plain wilderness as God first made it" was Captain John Smith. He was instrumental in the early development of the Jamestown colony. Additionally, John Rolfe's tobacco cultivation was key to the colony's economic success, and Sir William Berkeley advocated for diversified agriculture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Captain who described Virginia as "overgrown with trees and weeds, being a plain wilderness as God first made it," was none other than John Smith. Best known for his role in establishing the Jamestown settlement in Virginia, Smith's contributions were crucial during the early years of English colonization. His experiences and dealings with the Powhatan confederacy, efforts to organize the Jamestown colony, and explorations of the surrounding regions, including his famous map, assert his deep involvement with the colonial enterprise.
Additionally, John Rolfe's pioneering work in tobacco cultivation played a significant role in the economic success of the Virginia colony. Rolfe experimented with tobacco varieties and by 1612, had successful harvests that would begin a tobacco boom, helping to stabilize the colony's economy and appeal to European markets. This crop not only shaped the agricultural practices of Virginia but also had profound implications for the colony's societal and economic development. Meanwhile, Sir William Berkeley, arriving in Virginia later, also influenced the colony's economic strategies as a proponent of agricultural diversity beyond tobacco. Although few followed his advice given the overwhelming financial success of tobacco, his efforts indicate there was recognition of the risks in relying on a single cash crop. His tenure as governor underlines the evolving political and economic strategies during the formative years of Virginia's history as a colony.