Colony of Virginia

Quick Facts: Who was Colony of Virginia?

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Colony of Virginia

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The first enduring English colony in North America, established from 1607 to 1776.

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Origins & Early Life

The Colony of Virginia was a British colonial settlement in North America from 1606 to 1776. The first effort to create an English settlement in the area was chartered in 1584 and established in 1585; the resulting Roanoke Colony lasted for three attempts totaling six years. In 1590, the colony was abandoned. But nearly twenty years later, the colony was re-settled at Jamestown, not far north of the original site. A second charter was issued in 1606 and settled in 1607, becoming the first enduring English colony in North America.

Career & Major Achievements

It followed failed attempts at settlement on Newfoundland by Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1583 and the Roanoke Colony (in modern eastern North Carolina) by Sir Walter Raleigh in the late 1580s. The founder of the Jamestown colony was the Virginia Company, chartered by King James I, with its first two settlements being in Jamestown on the north bank of the James River and Popham Colony on the Kennebec River in modern-day Maine, both in 1607. The Popham colony quickly failed because of famine, disease, and conflicts with local Native American tribes in the first two years. Jamestown occupied land belonging to the Powhatan Confederacy; it was also on the brink of failure before the arrival of a new group of settlers and supplies by ship in 1610. Tobacco became Virginia's first profitable export, the production of which had a significant impact on the society and settlement patterns.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1624, the Virginia Company's charter was revoked by King James I, and the Virginia Colony was transferred to royal authority as a crown colony. After the English Civil War in the 1640s and 1650s, the Virginia colony was nicknamed "The Old Dominion" by King Charles II for its perceived loyalty to the English monarchy during the era of the Protectorate and Commonwealth of England. From 1619 to 1775/1776, the colonial legislature of Virginia was the General Assembly, which governed in conjunction with a colonial governor. Jamestown remained the capital of the Virginia Colony until 1699; from 1699 until its dissolution, the capital was in Williamsburg. The colony experienced its first significant political turmoil with Bacon's Rebellion of 1676.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1583: 1583 Milestone — It followed failed attempts at settlement on Newfoundland by Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1583 and the Roanoke Colony (in modern eastern North Carolina) by Sir Walter Raleigh in the late 1580s.
2. 1584: 1584 Milestone — The first effort to create an English settlement in the area was chartered in 1584 and established in 1585; the resulting Roanoke Colony lasted for three attempts totaling six years.
3. 1606: 1606 Milestone — The Colony of Virginia was a British colonial settlement in North America from 1606 to 1776.
4. 1607: 1607 Milestone — The founder of the Jamestown colony was the Virginia Company, chartered by King James I, with its first two settlements being in Jamestown on the north bank of the James River and Popham Colony on the Kennebec River in modern-day Maine, both in 1607.
5. 1610: 1610 Milestone — Jamestown occupied land belonging to the Powhatan Confederacy; it was also on the brink of failure before the arrival of a new group of settlers and supplies by ship in 1610.
6. 1619: 1619 Milestone — From 1619 to 1775/1776, the colonial legislature of Virginia was the General Assembly, which governed in conjunction with a colonial governor.
7. 1624: 1624 Milestone — In 1624, the Virginia Company's charter was revoked by King James I, and the Virginia Colony was transferred to royal authority as a crown colony.
8. 1676: 1676 Milestone — The colony experienced its first significant political turmoil with Bacon's Rebellion of 1676.
9. 1699: 1699 Milestone — Jamestown remained the capital of the Virginia Colony until 1699; from 1699 until its dissolution, the capital was in Williamsburg.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Colony of Virginia

True or False: “The Roanoke Colony was successfully re-established as a permanent settlement in the late 1580s.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Roanoke Colony ultimately failed and was abandoned; its mystery remains unsolved.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Anna Maria van Schurman — Historical peer (Born in 1607) (1607): Polymath scholar, poet, and early feminist advocate for female education.
• Bartholomew Gosnold — Historical peer (Died in 1607) (1607): English barrister, explorer, and privateer key to Virginia's founding.
• Amedeo Avogadro — Historical peer (Born in 1776) (1776): Pioneering Italian scientist known for Avogadro's law on gas volumes and molecular theory.
• David Hume — Historical peer (Died in 1776) (1776): Scottish philosopher renowned for empiricism, skepticism, and naturalism.
• Guru Arjan — Historical peer (Died in 1606) (1606): Fifth Sikh Guru, compiler of the Adi Granth, and founder of key Sikh settlements.
• Guy Fawkes — Historical peer (Died in 1606) (1606): English Catholic conspirator central to the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
• Arima Kihei — Historical peer (Born in 1584) (1584): Legendary Japanese swordsman, strategist, and author of The Book of Five Rings.
• Balthasar Gérard — Historical peer (Died in 1584) (1584): Assassin of William the Silent, a pivotal figure in the Dutch Revolt's history.
• Cardinal Richelieu — Historical peer (Born in 1585) (1585): Powerful French statesman who centralized royal authority and checked Habsburg power.
• Cornelius Jansen — Historical peer (Born in 1585) (1585): Influential Dutch Bishop and founder of the theological movement known as Jansenism.

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