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Jamestown expedition makes first landing in America at a place named Cape Henry, in what would become Virginia, but they

Jamestown expedition makes first landing in America at a place named Cape Henry, in what would become Virginia, but they quickly depart for a better site

The Jamestown settlement in the Colony of Virginia was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. It was located on the northeast bank of the James River, about 2.5 mi (4 km) southwest of present-day Williamsburg. It was established by the London Company as "James Fort" on May 4, 1607 O.S. (May 14, 1607 N.S.), and considered permanent, after a brief abandonment in 1610. It followed failed attempts, including the Roanoke Colony, established in 1585. Despite the dispatch of more supplies, only 60 of the original 214 settlers survived the 1609–1610 Starving Time. In mid-1610, the survivors abandoned Jamestown, though they returned after meeting a resupply convoy in the James River.

Jamestown served as the colonial capital from 1616 until 1699.

Historical Significance

The Jamestown settlement in the Colony of Virginia was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.

Events Before

  1. First known European landing in Australia by Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon at the Pennefather River, Cape York, northe

    First known European landing in Australia by Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon at the Pennefather River, Cape York, northern Australia

  2. Mughal prince Khusrav, son of Emperor Jahangir, begins a rebellion against his father, put down a few weeks later with t

    Mughal prince Khusrav, son of Emperor Jahangir, begins a rebellion against his father, put down a few weeks later with the prince blinded as punishment

  3. England adopts the Union Flag, replaced in 1801 by current Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack

    The Union Jack or Union Flag is the national flag of the United Kingdom. The flag consists of the red cross of Saint George (the patron saint of England), edged in white, superimposed on the red...

  4. Spanish Queirós Expedition are the first Europeans to discover Espíritu Santo, Vanuatu - although they think they have d

    Spanish Queirós Expedition are the first Europeans to discover Espíritu Santo, Vanuatu - although they think they have discovered Terra Australis (southern continent) [1]

  5. 2,000 foreigners murdered in Russia

    2,000 foreigners murdered in Russia

Events After

  1. English traveller Robert Shirley marries Iranian noblewoman Teresa Sampsonia at the Safavid royal court

    Teresa Sampsonia was a Circassian-English noblewoman of Safavid Iran. She was the wife of the Elizabethan English adventurer Robert Shirley, whom she accompanied on his travels and embassies across...

  2. Reynier van Oldenbarnevelt marries Anna Weytzen in Delft

    Reynier van Oldenbarnevelt marries Anna Weytzen in Delft

  3. Fire destroys Jamestown, Virginia

    This is a timeline of events related to the establishment of Jamestown, which today is located the U.S. state of Virginia.

  4. Susenyos is formally crowned Emperor of Ethiopia

    Susenyos I (Ge'ez: ሱስንዮስ Sūsinyōs; c. 1571–1575 – 17 September 1632), also known as Susenyos the Catholic, was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1607 to 1632, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty.

  5. Dutch trading ship arrives at the kingdom of Loango (modern Congo) to acquire ivory, their king requests audience with V

    Dutch trading ship arrives at the kingdom of Loango (modern Congo) to acquire ivory, their king requests audience with VOC official Pieter van den Broecke [1]

More from the 1600s

Scotland begins its numbered year on January 1 instead of March 25

A leap year (also known as an intercalary year or bissextile year) is a calendar year that contains an additional day (or, in the case of a lunisolar calendar, a month) compared to a common year.

First edition of "El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha" (Part One of Don Quixote) by Miguel de Cervantes is pub

First edition of "El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha" (Part One of Don Quixote) by Miguel de Cervantes is published in Madrid

English traveller Robert Shirley marries Iranian noblewoman Teresa Sampsonia at the Safavid royal court

Teresa Sampsonia was a Circassian-English noblewoman of Safavid Iran. She was the wife of the Elizabethan English adventurer Robert Shirley, whom she accompanied on his travels and embassies across...

A fleet of five British East India Company vessels departs on its first voyage from London, led by James Lancaster comma

A fleet of five British East India Company vessels departs on its first voyage from London, led by James Lancaster commanding the "Red Dragon"; the journey lasts nearly 16 months

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on April 26, 1607?
The Jamestown settlement in the Colony of Virginia was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. It was located on the northeast bank of the James River, about 2.5 mi (4 km) southwest of present-day Williamsburg. It was established by the London Company as "James Fort" on May 4, 1607 O.S.
Why is Jamestown expedition makes first landing in America at a place named Cape Hen... significant?
The Jamestown settlement in the Colony of Virginia was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.

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April 26 in HistoryYear 1607