<P> In 1606 , King James I of England granted charters to both the Plymouth Company and the London Company for the purpose of establishing permanent settlements in North America . The first permanently settled English colony on the North American continent was the Colony and Dominion of Virginia , established 1607 . The Plymouth Company did found the Popham Colony on the Kennebec River , but it was short - lived . The Plymouth Council for New England sponsored several colonization projects , culminating with Plymouth Colony , which was settled by the English Puritans who are known today as the Pilgrims . The Dutch , Swedish , and French also established successful North American colonies at roughly the same time as the English , but they eventually came under the English crown . The 13 colonies were complete with the establishment of the Province of Georgia in 1732 , although the term `` Thirteen Colonies '' became current only in the context of the American Revolution . </P>
<P> In 1606 , King James I of England granted charters to both the Plymouth Company and the London Company for the purpose of establishing permanent settlements in North America . The first permanently settled English colony on the North American continent was the Colony and Dominion of Virginia , established 1607 . The Plymouth Company did found the Popham Colony on the Kennebec River , but it was short - lived . The Plymouth Council for New England sponsored several colonization projects , culminating with Plymouth Colony , which was settled by the English Puritans who are known today as the Pilgrims . The Dutch , Swedish , and French also established successful North American colonies at roughly the same time as the English , but they eventually came under the English crown . The 13 colonies were complete with the establishment of the Province of Georgia in 1732 , although the term `` Thirteen Colonies '' became current only in the context of the American Revolution . </P>
which european country was in control of the original 13 colonies
which european country was in control of the original 13 colonies
England
England