...ontrol (see Florida and St. Augustine). Virginia was first settled by the English temporarily (see Raleigh, Sir Walter). The first permanent settlement was made by them in 1607, under the auspices of London merchants, who that year sent five ships, with a colony, to settle on Roanoke Island. Storms drove them into the entrance to Chesapeake Bay, when they ascended the Powhatan River 50 miles, landed, ...