Who was the English settlement Jamestown named after?

The Jamestown settlement, founded in 1607, is known as the first successful permanent English settlement in what would soon become the United States. Jamestown as a settlement thrived for nearly 100 years as the capital of the Virginia colony; until being abandoned after the capital moved to Williamsburg in 1699. During the late 1800's, a preservationist group took over the site, and today, it is part of a national historic park with tours, museums and ongoing archaeological digs that continue to reveal new findings, being one of three locations composing the Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia.

On December 6, 1606, the journey to Virginia began on three ships: the "Susan Constant", the "Godspeed", and the "Discovery". In 1607, 104 English men and boys arrived in North America to establish a colony. On May 13th they picked Jamestown, Virginia for their settlement, being named after their King, James I.