Thrown overboard from a ship, enslaved by the Turks,captured by pirates, rescued by a princess-the story of Englishmman John Smith would seem unbelievable if it werefiction. Young John first sought adventure in Europe, traveling as far as Russia and distinguishing himself in the wars that raged across the Old World. But Smith's real passion was for the New World, and in 1607 he sailed to North American with th emen who would establish the first lasting British settlement-Jamestown. There he fought level-headedly for the policies that would enable the fragile community to survive starvation, disease and deadly attacks to become a foothold in the New World.