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Pocahontas was born an Indian princess around 1595 and was the favored daughter of her father, the Indian tribe's chief. Powhatan ruled over an area that included what is now Virginia. Pocahontas aided the English in attempts to settle in North America, against her father's wishes. Her highest claim to fame was the fact she was the first Native American Indian accepted and honored among European society of her time and previously.

An unknown truth or well-spread rumor claims Pocahontas saved the life of John Smith, one of the first English settlers in 1607 after the failed Roanoke settlement. Since Pocahontas was ten years old at the time, it is unclear if she did offer her own life to save his. Again, this could be nothing more than an elaborate and beautiful romantic fairytale of the time.

The Indian princess did become a close friend of John Smith after he helped save the people of his colony from starvation. She continued to help the Jamestown colony even after John Smith returned to English in 1609, at a time when the English and her father were on the brink of war.
Captain Samuel Argall captured Pocahontas in 1613. It was Argall's hope to demand a ransom exchange, the daughter of an Indian Chief for English prisoners and weapons, which Powhatan held hostage. During the captivity, the princess received royal treatment. She learned a great deal about English culture and mannerisms. In 1614, she turned against her heritage, her family's beliefs for Christian ones where she later accepted a baptism and the English Christian name of Rebecca.

While Pocahontas changed her way of life completely opposite of her culture, her father remained stringent in his refusal to release the English prisoners or the weapons. The bitter brewing war between the two nations grew more intense and dangerous.

Chief Powhatan's peace with the English came only after the favored daughter asked her father's permission to marry John Rolfe, an Englishman she met during the time as an English captive. With Powhatan's permission, a 19-year-old Pocahontas married John Rolfe April 5, 1614. The marriage between Pocahontas, the daughter of such a powerful chief and John Rolfe, an aristocrat forged a powerful political alliance between the English and Powhatans until the old man died sometime in 1618.

In March of 1617, Pocahontas and Rolfe lived in England with Thomas, their 2-year-old son. The couple and son planned to return home to the Americas with several Indian men and women when the Indian princess became deathly ill before she and her family could leave England. She died at 21 years of age. John Rolfe buried his wife in St. George's churchyard in Gravesend.

During the former princess' time in England years before her death, she received the honor of having an audience with King James I and Queen Anne. While at court, Pocahontas had the opportunity to reunite with her old friend John Smith. Additionally, during her stay in England, Pocahontas became the leading lady of the court gaining reception of all the high society in England. She had portraits painted by famous artists as well. In the end, the former Native American Indian princess never had the opportunity to see her homeland again before she died at such a young age and with a small child.

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