Why did John Smith started the colony of Virginia?

Answer 1

Smith did not start Jamestown. It was started by the Virgina Company a group of private investors who thought that the area was full of gold and silver. They sent 106 men to search for gold and silver. Their chosen site was mosquito ridden and without fresh water. Buckets would be dipped into the James River that was "full of slime and filth." Within the first 6 months only 34 of the 106 men were still alive. Smith arrived in late 1608 to be the second Jamestown governor. He set rules for the colony and began to ration food. He also made deals with the Native Americans in the area for food. Needless to say, he was not popular and in 1609 had to return to England because of gunpowder burns. By the end of 1610 the settlers of Jamestown were eating "dogs, cats, rats, and mice" that was cooked as kind of porridge. One man murdered his pregnant wife and "salted her for his food." When Rolfe arrived that spring only about 60 people out of 200 were still alive. This was the "starving time."