John Smith was born in England in 1580, the son of a poor tenant farmer for a prominent land owner, Lord Willoughby. One of John's tasks was to care for geese, which his mother plucked for their feathers. His companion was Big Jack, a gander that strutted along beside him at the head of the flock.

Near Willoughby were large marshlands which John loved to explore. He was intrigued by the many kinds of wildlife he found there. Often he was accompanied by his friend Robert Willoughby, the son of Lord Willoughby. Together the boys outfitted a cave and had many harrowing experiences.

The Smith home was only a short distance from the ocean, and John often went to a fishing village with his father. He looked out on the sea with wonder and hoped that someday he could sail away on a ship. Later he attended a school near the sea.

When John was seventeen, his father died and he was apprenticed to a wool merchant. His work, which gave him contact with the sea, made him yearn all the more for adventure. At last with the aid of Lord Willoughby he went to France where he had his first experiences abroad.

During the next eight years Smith spent his time traveling and fighting in different parts of Europe, on the Mediterranean, and in northern Africa. At one time he was captured and made a slave by the Turks, but fled from captivity. The experiences which he had during these eight years were almost incredible.

When Smith returned to England, he became interested in going to America. In 1607 he joined the Virginia Company and set sail for Virginia. Here he helped to found the settlement of Jamestown and to save it from failure. His most harrowing experience came when Chief Powhatan ordered him killed and he was saved by Pocahontas.

Later Smith returned to England and organized an expedition to explore the North America coast northward from Virginia. He called the country New England and drew maps of the coastline. During his lifetime he wrote many books about his travels and was one of the leading explorers of his day.

Thomas Frank Barton is the author of a number of popular books for children. In writing this book he has portrayed appealingly and accurately Smith's colorful life. Especially has has shown how Smith helped to explore and settle America and thus to lay a foundation for the country in which we live.

From the dust jacket