1607day.year
According to John Smith, Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan leader Wahunsenacawh, successfully pleads for his life after tribal leaders attempt to execute him.
In 1607, Pocahontas famously intervened to save English colonist John Smith from execution by her father’s Powhatan tribal council.
In December 1607, captured English explorer John Smith was brought before Powhatan leaders, who debated his fate.
According to Smith’s own account, Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief Wahunsenacawh, bravely intervened and pleaded for his life.
Her actions averted an execution, showcasing early moments of diplomacy between the Jamestown settlers and the Powhatan Confederacy.
This event became legendary, symbolizing cross-cultural encounters and misunderstandings in colonial America.
While the historical accuracy is debated, Pocahontas’s role has endured as an iconic story of mercy and survival.
1607
John Smith
Pocahontas
Powhatan
Wahunsenacawh