jul 12, 1607 - Jamestown Founded

Description:

In 1606, King James 1 granted a new venture called The Virginia Company to combat Spain's efforts to colonize the Americas. The Virginia Company planned to search for gold and silver deposits in the New World along with a river route to the Pacific Ocean that would allow trade with Asia (The Orient). Famine, disease, and conflict with Native Americans nearly became the colony's downfall before the arrival of new settlers and supplies three years later.