June 21

Born in 1580, John Smith embarked on a naval career that led him to command expeditions against European rivals and pirates. As an admiral, he played a role in shaping early 17th-century English maritime power and naval tactics. Smith led voyages of exploration to the North Atlantic, conducting surveys and producing charts of previously uncharted coastlines. His writings and reports informed the English crown’s expanding global ambitions. He balanced military duties with scientific curiosity, collecting geographical and naturalistic observations. Smith died in 1631, remembered for his contributions to naval warfare and the age of discovery.