Commanding three ships Susan Constant, Discovery, and Godspeed – Captain Christopher Newport landed at Cape Henry April 26, 1607. He had been sent there for financial reasoning, as the prospects from the New World were endless. 40 miles inland land was chosen to setup a settlement, and despite it being a terrible place to grow crops and inferior living conditions, the advantage was that it was uninhabited by Native American tribes, for good reason.
On this day May 24th, Jamestown is founded. The colonists had arrived too late to grow crops, and in 1609-10 there was massive starvation, as only 61 colonists, of the original 500, survived. Many perished during Jamestown early years, but John Rolfe decided to stay and by the 17th century teen years, Jamestown was on its way to becoming a successful settlement.
John Rolfe tested out a new tobacco, a popular product in Europe, and he eventually succeeded. He married Pocahontas, and this allowed for peace between the Natives and the Colonists. After having been attacked, burned down, and destroyed, it was decided in 1699 that Jamestown would be abandoned and moved to Middle Plantation. Jamestown is now preserved as a historical site with a replica of the three original ships on its bay.