Chief of the Native American Algonquin tribes of central coastal Virginia in 1607, when the English settlers arrived to found Jamestown. Earlier contacts with the Algonquin had been made in 1570–71 and 1588 by the Spanish, and in 1584–86 by the English. During the early 17th century Powhatan’s position was strengthened by wars of expansion. His daughter Pocahontas intervened to save the captured John Smith and was herself held hostage by the English to force their policy on her father.