A Bit of Polish/American History
Did you know that…
… the first Poles in the “New World” were skilled craftsmen who arrived in Jamestown in 1608? Captain John Smith, the leader of Jamestown, records the arrival of Polish artisans on the second supply ship to England’s first successful colony in North America. Period documents show that the Poles were sought for their skills to make the colony more profitable. While available information on the Polish settlers is limited, interesting references to them are found in the writings of John Smith and other records. For example, a reference in the Virginia Company records describes how the Polish settlers obtained the right to vote in Virginia. While this year we’re celebrating the hundredth anniversary of Poland-US diplomatic relations, the presence of Poles in Jamestown shows that our people-to-people ties go back much further!
Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C.
