in 1607, after traveling by ocean for 144 days, three ships headed by captain christopher newport came to land where the atlantic ocean meets the southern mouth of the chesapeake bay. this point is in the northeastern part of the city. they named it cape henry, after henry frederick, prince of wales, the oldest son of king james i of england. they then left the area to find a place farther inland where ships from other european countries would not find them. they created their first settlement at jamestown.