Christopher Newport |
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Former Pirate Who Chose the Location of JamestownChristopher Newport was a former pirate who sailed with Sir Francis Drake on Drake's famous raid on Cadiz, Spain. He is best known as the Captain of the Susan Constant, one of three boats that first sailed to Jamestown in 1607. It is thought that he chose the site of the Jamestown colony. The Lifeline of JamestownDuring the initial settlement period at Jamestown, Newport became the colony's "lifeline," making several trips back and forth between Jamestown and England delivering vital supplies and additional settlers to the beleaguered colony. It was Christopher Newport who brought an injured John Smith back to Europe in 1609. Later that year, a new ship under his command, the "Sea Voyage," ran aground on Bermuda during a hurricane. Newport and 150 settlers remained stuck on the island for more than a year before making it once again to Jamestown. On his last voyage to Jamestown in 1610, Newport brought John Rolfe. Rolfe would engineer a new kind of tobacco that would become the key to the colony's eventual prosperity.Discussion Questions
Former Pirate Who Chose the Location of JamestownChristopher Newport was once a pirate who sailed with Sir Francis Drake. He later became the captain of the Susan Constant, one of the three ships that sailed to Virginia in 1607. He is believed to have chosen the site where Jamestown was built. The Lifeline of JamestownAfter the colony began, Newport became a lifeline for Jamestown. He made several trips between England and Jamestown, bringing food, tools, and new settlers. In 1609, he brought an injured John Smith back to Europe. That same year, Newport’s ship was caught in a hurricane and ran aground in Bermuda. He and 150 settlers were stuck there for over a year before returning to Virginia. On his final trip in 1610, he brought John Rolfe, who would later grow tobacco and help the colony succeed. |
