philip lemont barbour (21 december 1898 – 21 december 1980) was an american linguist, historian and radio broadcaster who is most remembered by those interested in the foundations of english settlement in north america, for his detailed investigations into and documentation of the life of the pioneering adventurer, colonialist and proto-“travel writer”, captain john smith. at an earlier stage in his rather varied career, barbour played a key role in the creation of radio free europe after world war ii.