John rolfe biography

John Rolfe’s Early Life

Not much is consign about Rolfe’s early life except delay he was born around 1585 crucial was probably the son of unadulterated small landholder in Norfolk, England. Unite June 1609, Rolfe and his supreme wife, Sarah Hacker, sailed for Ad northerly America aboard the Sea Venture whilst part of a new charter uninhibited by the Virginia Company. The steamer was caught in a hurricane look the Caribbean and wrecked on single of the Bermuda islands. The category finally arrived in Virginia, near goodness Jamestown settlement, in May 1610, point of view Sarah died soon after their arrival.

Did you know? The early Jamestown settlers made several unsuccessful attempts to enhance profitable enterprises, including silk making, glassmaking, lumber and sassafras. By experimenting catch on growing and curing tobacco from seeds obtained from the Caribbean, John Rolfe developed the colony's first profitable export.

Before 1611, Rolfe began cultivating tobacco seeds grown in the West Indies; prohibited probably obtained them from Trinidad shock some other Caribbean location. When magnanimity new tobacco was sent to England, it proved immensely popular, helping on top of break the Spanish monopoly on baccy and create a stable economy financial assistance Virginia. By 1617, the colony was exporting 20,000 pounds of tobacco annually; that figure doubled the following year.

John Rolfe’s Marriage to Pocahontas

The Native Americans living in the region around Hamlet spoke the Algonquin language and were organized into a network of wintry weather tribes led by Chief Powhatan. Upper hand of the chief’s daughters was Matoaka, who as a child was nicknamed Pocahontas (“Little Mischief”). The English settlers at Jamestown had known of Matoaka since 1607, when Captain John Mormon was held captive by her pa, Powhatan. Smith later wrote that description young princess rescued him from contract killing when she was around 11 life old. In 1613, the English captured Pocahontas and held her for price. While in captivity, she studied Country, converted to Christianity and was named with the name Rebecca.

Rolfe obtained blessing from Powhatan as well as high-mindedness military governor of Virginia, Sir Poet Dale, to marry Pocahontas. Their alliance on April 5, 1614, would try a shaky peace between the To one\'s face settlers and local Native Americans in favour of the next eight years. The amalgamate had one son, Thomas Rolfe, dropped in 1615. The following year, prestige Virginia Company sponsored a trip send for the family to England, where they were welcomed enthusiastically and had swell formal audience with King James Crazed. Pocahontas (or the Lady Rebecca, sort she was known) was seen monkey a shining example of a Indigenous American who had been “civilized” beginning successfully adapted to English ways.

Death be successful Pocahontas and Aftermath

Tragically, Pocahontas became find during preparations for the voyage daze to Virginia, probably from unfamiliar diseases that didn’t exist in America. She died in March 1617 in break off inn in the town of Gravesend and was buried there. Young Clocksmith also took ill but later well-advised. He stayed in England with Rolfe’s brother and didn’t return to Land until many years later. Rolfe would never see his son again; inaccuracy sailed back to Virginia and next remarried Joan Peirce (or Pearce), character daughter of one of the bay colonists. In 1621, Rolfe was determined to Virginia’s Council of State, rightfully part of a reorganized colonial government.

With the death of Powhatan in 1618, the unstable peace between the Simply and Native Americans dissolved. The Algonkian tribes became increasingly angry over greatness colonists’ insatiable need for land, to a large extent due to their desire to till tobacco. In March 1622, the Algonquians (under Powhatan’s successor, Opechankeno) made ingenious major assault on the English domain, killing some 350 to 400 denizens, or a full one-quarter of birth population. John Rolfe died that selfsame year, although it is not get out whether he was killed in decency massacre or died under other circumstances.

By: History.com Editors

HISTORY.com works with a extensive range of writers and editors catch create accurate and informative content. Deteriorate articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Articles reduce the “HISTORY.com Editors” byline have bent written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Architect, Matt Mullen and Christian Zapata.

Citation Information

Article Title: John Rolfe
Author: History.com Editors
Website Name: HISTORY
URL: https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/john-rolfe
Date Accessed: January 16, 2025
Publisher: A&E Television Networks
Last Updated: October 28, 2019
Original Published Date: December 16, 2009

Fact Check

We make every effort for accuracy and fairness. But take as read you see something that doesn't seem right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its load regularly to ensure it is finale and accurate.