The British Colonies in North America
This guide to the British Colonies in North America provides essential facts about each colony, along with links to related content on American History Central.
13 Original Colonies
The 13 Original Colonies are the colonies that fought in the American Revolutionary War, declared independence from Britain, and established the United States of America. The 13 Colonies are listed below, in the order that they were founded.
Editor’s Note: We are currently working on new articles for each of the colonies. This guide will be updated as new articles are published.
Virginia
Essential Facts
- Year Founded — 1607
- Founded By — The London Company of Virginia
- General Assembly Established — 1619
Primary Documents
- First Charter of Virginia, April 1606
- Second Charter of Virginia, May 1609
- Third Charter of Virginia, March 1612
- Virginia Stamp Act Resolves
Key People
History
Massachusetts
Essential Facts
- Year Founded — 1629
- Founded By — Massachusetts Bay Company
- General Assembly Established — 1633
Primary Documents
Key People
- Abigail Adams
- John Adams
- Samuel Adams
- Thomas Cushing
- William Dawes
- John Hancock
- James Otis
- Robert Treat Paine
- John Parker
- Oliver Partridge
- Samuel Prescott
- William Prescott
- Paul Revere
- Robert Rogers
- Timothy Ruggles
- Artemas Ward
- Joseph Warren
- Mercy Otis Warren
History
- Massachusetts Bay Colony — Early History and Settlement
- Salem Witch Trials — Summary
- Salem Witch Trials — Victims
- Boston Non-Importation Agreement of 1768
- Charleston Powder Alarm
- Salem Gunpowder Raid and Resistance (Leslie’s Retreat)
Maryland
Essential Facts
- Year Founded — 1634
- Founded By — Lord Baltimore
- General Assembly Established — 1634
Key People
Rhode Island
Essential Facts
- Year Founded — 1636
- Founded By — Roger Williams
- General Assembly Established — 1647
Primary Documents
Key People
History
- Rhode Island Colony – Early History and Settlement
- Rhode Island in the American Revolution
- Gaspee Affair
Connecticut
Essential Facts
- Year Founded — 1636
- Founded By — Thomas Hooker
- General Assembly Established — 1637
Primary Documents
Key People
- Ethan Allen
- Benedict Arnold
- Eliphalet Dyer
- Nathan Hale
- William Samuel Johnson
- Israel Putnam
- David Rowland
- Roger Sherman
History
North Carolina
Essential Facts
- Year Founded — 1663 (as Carolina)
- Founded By — Lords Proprietors (8 allies of King Charles II)
- General Assembly Established — 1729
South Carolina
Essential Facts
- Year Founded — 1663 (as Carolina)
- Founded By — Lords Proprietors
- General Assembly Established — 1719
Primary Documents
Key People
History
New York
Essential Facts
- Year Founded — 1664 (acquired from the Dutch)
- Founded By — Duke of York
- General Assembly Established — 1683–1685
Primary Documents
- New York Merchants Non-Importation Agreement in Response to the Stamp Act
- Townshend Acts, New York Restraining Act
- Sons of Liberty, New York, Association of 1773
Key People
- William Bayard, Sr.
- John Cruger Jr.
- Alexander Hamilton
- Leonard Lispenard
- John Jay
- Philip Livingston
- Robert R. “The Judge” Livingston
History
New Jersey
Essential Facts
- Year Founded — 1664
- Founded By — Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret
- General Assembly Established — 1664
Key People
Primary Documents
Pennsylvania
Essential Facts
- Year Founded — 1681
- Founded By — William Penn
- General Assembly Established — 1681
Primary Documents
Key People
New Hampshire
Essential Facts
- Year Founded — 1679 (first English settlement established in 1623)
- Founded By — John Mason
- General Assembly Established — 1680
Key People
History
Delaware
Essential Facts
- Year Founded — 1638
- Founded By — Swedish settlers
- General Assembly Established — 1704
Key People
Georgia
Essential Facts
- Year Founded — 1732
- Founded By — James Oglethorpe
- General Assembly Established — 1733
Other English Colonies
The 13 Original Colonies were not the only British Colonies in North America. Some were in Canada, some were abandoned, and others merged with larger colonies. Some of the more well-known colonies are listed below.
British Colonies Established by the Proclamation of 1763
- Province of Quebec
- West Florida
- East Florida
Smaller Colonies that Merged with Larger Colonies
- Plymouth
- Salem
- New Haven
Lost or Abandoned Colonies
- Roanoke
- Popham