An early leader in the Virginia colony was Captain John Smith. Captain Smith was a soldier and an explorer. He arrived in Virginia in 1608 at the age of 27. He had the biggest challenge perhaps that the settlers had. Captain John Smith was injured in a gunpowder explosion in September of 1608. Captain Smith left to go back home to England in October of 1609. He sailed back to America in 1614. Captain Smith sailed to what he called New England which was the area from Maine to Massachusetts. He never did go back to Virginia. He then returned back home to England.