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Captain John Smith (1580-1631) was a soldier and adventurer. He began his travels by joining volunteers in France who were fighting for Dutch independence from Spain. In 1600 he then joined Austrian forces to fight the Turks. Two years later was fighting in Transylvania, where he was wounded, captured, and sold into slavery. His Turkish captor then sent Smith as a gift to his sweetheart in Istanbul. According to Smith, this girl fell in love with him and sent him to her brother to get training for Turkish imperial service. Smith reportedly escaped by murdering the brother and returned to Transylvania. After being released from Austrian service and receiving a large reward, he returned to England in 1604-05. Smith then lead the 1606 expedition to Virginia from Blackwall. He was largely responsible for the establishment of a trading settlement at Jamestown. During his stay in Virginia his life was saved by the Indian Pocahontas.