Captain John Smith understood his good fortune in being the recorder of his own deeds, and he preceded Lord Beaconsfield (in “Endymion”) in his appreciation of the value of the influence of women upon the career of a hero.  In the dedication of his “General Historie” to Frances, Duchess of Richmond, he says: 

“I have deeply hazarded myself in doing and suffering, and why should I sticke to hazard my reputation in recording?  He that acteth two parts is the more borne withall if he come short, or fayle in one of them.  Where shall we looke to finde a Julius Caesar whose atchievments shine as cleare in his owne Commentaries, as they did in the field?  I confesse, my hand though able to wield a weapon among the Barbarous, yet well may tremble in handling a Pen among so many judicious; especially when I am so bold as to call so piercing and so glorious an Eye, as your Grace, to view these poore ragged lines.  Yet my comfort is that heretofore honorable and vertuous Ladies, and comparable but amongst themselves, have offered me rescue and protection in my greatest dangers:  even in forraine parts, I have felt reliefe from that sex.  The beauteous Lady Tragabigzanda, when I was a slave to the Turks, did all she could to secure me.  When I overcame the Bashaw of Nalbrits in Tartaria, the charitable Lady Callamata supplyed my necessities.  In the utmost of my extremities, that blessed Pokahontas, the great King’s daughter of Virginia, oft saved my life.  When I escaped the cruelties of Pirats and most furious stormes, a long time alone in a small Boat at Sea, and driven ashore in France, the good Lady Chanoyes bountifully assisted me.”

It is stated in his “True Travels” that John Smith was born in Willoughby, in Lincolnshire.  The year of his birth is not given, but it was probably in 1579, as it appears by the portrait prefixed to that work that he was aged 37 years in 1616.  We are able to add also that the rector of the Willoughby Rectory, Alford, finds in the register an entry of the baptism of John, son of George Smith, under date of Jan. 9, 1579.  His biographers, following his account, represent him as of ancient lineage:  “His father actually descended from the ancient Smiths of Crudley in Lancashire, his mother from the Rickands at great Heck in Yorkshire;” but the circumstances of his boyhood would indicate that like many other men who have made themselves a name, his origin was humble.  If it had been otherwise he would scarcely have been bound as an apprentice, nor had so much difficulty in his advancement.  But the boy was born with a merry disposition, and in his earliest years was impatient for adventure.  The desire to rove was doubtless increased by the nature of his native shire, which offered every inducement to the lad of spirit to leave it.