Argall,, Sir Samuel (1580?-1626?), an English adventurer, active in early Virginia. In 1609 he discovered a northern route between England and Virginia that greatly reduced travel time to the new colony. The next year he brought food to the starving settlers of Virginia. In 1613 Argall captured Pocahontas, who later married John Rolfe. Also that year he destroyed French settlements in Acadia, thus opening the area for English colonization. He served as deputy governor and admiral of Virginia, 1617-19. In 1622 Argall was knighted.