the expedition that founded the first permanent settlement set sail on december 19, 1606 from blackwall, england on three ships commanded by captain christopher newport. it consisted of 105 men and boys sponsored by the proprietary london company section of the virginia company. they had an unusually long voyage of 144 days. on april 26, 1607, they made their first landfall at cape henry, in the northeastern part of today's independent city of virginia beach, a point where the chesapeake bay meets the atlantic ocean. it was named in honor of henry frederick, prince of wales, the eldest son of king james i of england. however the settlers left the area under orders from england to seek a site further inland which would be more sheltered from ships of competing european countries.