Who Founded The State of Virginia?

The Colonial Genesis: Jamestown and the Virginia Company (1607)

The story of Virginia's founding as a colony begins in the early 17th century with English ambitions in the New World.

• The Virginia Company of London: Under a royal charter granted by King James I of England, the Virginia Company of London, a joint-stock company, was formed to establish a colony in North America. Their aims included finding gold, discovering a passage to the Orient, and claiming land for England.
• Arrival at Jamestown: In 1607, three ships chartered by the Virginia Company – the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery – arrived in the Chesapeake Bay. The colonists selected a site on a peninsula along the James River. They established Jamestown, named in honor of King James I. This marked the founding of the first permanent English settlement in North America.
• Early Leadership: While no single individual "founded" Virginia in the sense of a sole proprietor like William Penn with Pennsylvania, early leaders at Jamestown, such as Captain John Smith, played crucial roles in the colony's survival during its challenging early years.
• Naming: The colony itself was named "Virginia" in honor of Queen Elizabeth I, the "Virgin Queen," who had reigned during earlier English explorations of North America.

Transition to a Royal Colony:

The Virginia Company faced financial difficulties, and in 1624, King James I revoked its charter. Virginia was then converted into a Royal Colony, meaning it was administered directly by the English Crown through an appointed royal governor.

Forging a State: The American Revolution and Virginia's Patriots:

The "founding" of Virginia as one of the original United States is a different chapter, driven by the American Revolution.

• Leading Role in Independence: Virginia played a leading role in the movement towards independence from Great Britain. Its House of Burgesses was a hotbed of revolutionary thought.
• Virginia's Founding Fathers: Many of the most influential figures in the American Revolution and the founding of the United States hailed from Virginia. These include:
  • George Washington: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and the first U.S. President.
  • Thomas Jefferson: Principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third U.S. President.
  • Patrick Henry: Known for his fiery oratory and calls for liberty.
  • James Madison: Often called the "Father of the Constitution" and the fourth U.S. President.
  • George Mason: Author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which influenced the U.S. Bill of Rights.
• Statehood: Virginia declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776 and adopted its own state constitution. It was a crucial member of the thirteen colonies that fought for and won independence.

So, who founded Virginia? Regarding the colonial founding, it was the Virginia Company of London in 1607, with the establishment of Jamestown. There isn't a single individual founder in that context.

If referring to the founding of Virginia as a state within the United States, it was a collective effort driven by its revolutionary leaders and citizens who championed independence and helped shape the new nation. Figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and James Madison were instrumental in this "founding" of the Commonwealth of Virginia as a sovereign state and a cornerstone of the United States.

Sources:

• Historic Jamestowne (National Park Service / Preservation Virginia)
• Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
• Library of Virginia (Colonial Records Project)
• Virginia Historical Society
• Biographies of key figures like John Smith, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, etc.
• Historical Accounts of the Virginia Company of London
• Records of the American Revolution