• Home
  • About Evelyn Kanter
  • Evelyn Kanter’s Books & Apps
  • Evelyn Kanter In The News
  • Workshops
  • NYC Travel Guru

Evelyn Kanter ecoXplorer

green living, smart spending

  • Green Hotels
  • Green Cars
    • Best Cars under $20,000
    • Test Drives
    • Diesel Cars
    • Electric Cars
    • Hybrid Cars
    • Hydrogen Fuel Cell
    • Luxury Drives
  • Travel Deals
    • Free
    • Budget Travel
    • Discount Tickets
  • Xplore More
    • Safety and Health
    • How To
    • Five Best
    • Travel Pioneers
    • Motorcycles
    • Vintage Cars
  • Scam Alert
  • Where to Go Next
    • Historic Travel
    • Epic Adventures
    • National Parks
Home » The Real Pocahontas

The Real Pocahontas

1 Comment

Pocahontas is back in the news. Like Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has Native American heritage, the real Pocahontas was a remarkable woman.

Here is the bio of the real Pocahontas, via the National Museum of the American Indian, part of the Smithsonian, following the 400th anniversary in 2017 of her death:

She was about 22 years old when she died, on March 21, 1617, in London, where Pocahontas spent the last nine months of her life, and was known there as Lady Rebecca.

Powhatan Princess

Born Amonute, Pocahontas was the daughter of the leader of the powerful Powhatan Confederacy. The confederacy dominated the coastal mid-Atlantic region when, in 1607, English colonists established James Fort, a for-profit colony, along the Chesapeake Bay.

Pocahontas, a child at the time, often accompanied her father’s men to the fort, signaling that their mission was peaceful. Amazingly or not, the English arrived poorly equipped, lacked provisions, and were almost entirely dependent on the Powhatan for food. Pocahontas was among those who brought food to the fort.

Relations between the English and Powhatan, however, were always fraught. And in 1613 Pocahontas, then about 18 years old, was abducted by the English and held hostage for more than a year. The Christian theologian Alexander Whitaker began to instruct Pocahontas, in both English and in the Anglican religion.

While captive, Pocahontas met the colonist John Rolfe, who—according to various English accounts, including his own—fell in love with her. Pocahontas agreed to marry Rolfe and, shortly before her marriage, received a Christian baptism.

Tobacco Wealth

It was Rolfe who developed the strain of tobacco that would make the colony prosperous, enrich its investors and Britain, and eventually lead to the collapse of the Powhatan Confederacy.

In 1616 Pocahontas traveled to London with Rolfe and their infant son, Thomas.

Her trip was sponsored by the James Fort investors.

Famously, Pocahontas, accompanied by an entourage of high-standing Powhatan, was celebrated throughout London. She was received twice in the Court of King James, to be presented to the king and to attend a Twelfth Night masque.

Pocahontas never returned home. She died just before the start of her return voyage and was buried in Gravesend, an ancient town on the banks of the Thames Estuary.

Pocahontas was buried in the chancel (near the altar) of the original St. George’s Church in Gravesend.

Buried in Britain

That church was destroyed by fire in 1727, and Pocahontas is now buried at an unknown location somewhere on the grounds surrounding the current St. George’s Church.

The bronze Pocahontas sculpture outside St. George’s, a copy of the 1923 statue at James Fort, was presented to the church by the people of Virginia on the 350th anniversary of Pocahontas’s death.

Read more in Smithsonian Magazine.

Give the gift of Smithsonian Magazine for only $12

Follow @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

About the engraving displayed (courtesy of the Smithsonian)

The famous engraving of Pocahontas made by Simon van de Passe (1595–1647) mirrors the Renold Elstrack (1570–1625 or after) engraving of Queen Elizabeth—and the 31 other engravings of British sovereigns published in 1618 in “Baziliologia: A Booke of Kings.”

(Left: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. Right: National Portrait Gallery, London)

Thanks for visiting ecoXplorer. Stay up to date with the latest news about green travel, green cars, smart spending and frugal living by subscribing. It's free. RSS feed.
Welcome back to exoXplorer. Stay up to date with the latest news about green travel, green cars and smart spending by subscribing. It's free. RSS feed.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Posts:

  • Where to Celebrate Women's History Month
  • 24 Best Historic Golf Courses in USA
  • New York City Parks Named for Women
  • 25 Most Haunted Hotels in USA
  • American Women Who Married Royalty
  • Free Entry to US National Parks

Filed Under: Green Travel Tagged With: National Museum of the American Indian, NMAI, Pocahontas, Sen. Elizabeth Warren

What do you think? We value your comments and love hearing from you. Cancel reply

ecoXplorer is your guide to smart spending and eco-friendly living

Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and guidebook and smartphone app author – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), and is a past Board Member of a prestigious professional group for travel journalists.

Evelyn Kanter is Editor of SeniorsSkiing, which focuses on the 50+ outdoor enthusiast.

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com or evelyn@evelynkanter.com.

Most Popular Recent Posts

  • Scam Alert: Kars4Kids Car Donation Charity
    Scam Alert: Kars4Kids Car Donation Charity
  • Fast Food Deals & New Menu Items in June, July
    Fast Food Deals & New Menu Items in June, July
  • 2 Reasons to Avoid Jimmy John's
    2 Reasons to Avoid Jimmy John's
  • Scam Alert: Mideast Peace Charities
    Scam Alert: Mideast Peace Charities
  • NYC Culture Calendar for June & July
    NYC Culture Calendar for June & July
  • Where to Eat in Times Square & Theater District at Local Restaurants Not National Chains
    Where to Eat in Times Square & Theater District at Local Restaurants Not National Chains
  • 16 Ways to Recycle Old Pantyhose
    16 Ways to Recycle Old Pantyhose
  • Get Your Photo on a U-Haul truck
    Get Your Photo on a U-Haul truck
  • Lamborghini Stretch Limousine for Rent
    Lamborghini Stretch Limousine for Rent
  • Planet Fitness FREE Teen Work-Outs
    Planet Fitness FREE Teen Work-Outs

Search ecoXplorer by category

© 2010-2023 EcoXplorer by Evelyn Kanter. All articles and photos are protected by US (C) Copyright laws. Any unauthorized copying is strictly prohibited. Plus, it’s just not nice.

  • Home
  • About Evelyn Kanter
  • Evelyn Kanter’s Books & Apps
  • Evelyn Kanter In The News
  • Workshops
  • NYC Travel Guru

ecoXplorer.com is an independent information service which is compensated by advertisers and sponsors. This site includes some links to other websites which are compensated for by our sponsors when you click them.

 

Loading Comments...