Which company was responsible for founding the first permanent English colony?

The Virginia Company was responsible for founding the first permanent English colony in America, which was Jamestown, established in 1607. This company was a joint-stock venture that aimed to profit from the resources of the New World. The establishment of Jamestown marked a significant moment in American history as it was the first successful attempt by England to create a lasting settlement in North America.

The company's focus on cultivating tobacco as a cash crop played a crucial role in ensuring its survival and economic viability, which would influence English colonial expansion in the years to come. In contrast, while the Plymouth Company did undertake attempts at colonization, it was not successful in establishing a permanent settlement. The Massachusetts Bay Company was established later and formed the basis for the Puritan settlement in New England in 1630. The London Company is often used interchangeably with the Virginia Company, but specifically, the Virginia Company was the official entity that chartered the establishment of Jamestown.