Final answer:
In 1607, John Smith and his settlers founded Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America, under the Virginia Company directive.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1607, John Smith and his fellow settlers founded the first permanent English settlement in the Americas named Jamestown. This endeavor was organized by the Virginia Company, a joint stock company that originated from a desire to establish a colony in the New World. The company's ships, carrying over a hundred individuals, reached the Chesapeake Bay in April of 1607. Upon exploration, they decided to establish their colony on a marshy area along the James River, which was later found to be a challenging location for the settlement.
The settlers of Jamestown initially struggled due to infighting, lack of adequate food, poor relations with the native Powhatan tribe, and the quest for wealth rather than sustainability. However, despite these early struggles and a severe period known as "the starving time," the colony managed to endure. Jamestown's survival was largely due to the leadership of individuals like John Smith, who worked to keep the peace and provide direction for the inhabitants, and the eventual development of the tobacco economy, which provided the settlement with a valuable cash crop ensuring the financial interest of the Virginia Company.