Popham Colony was an early English settlement established in 1607 in present-day Maine, near the mouth of the Kennebec River. It was founded by a group of adventurers and investors, including Sir Ferdinando Gorges and John Popham, who aimed to create a permanent colony in North America. The settlement was short-lived, lasting only about a year due to harsh conditions and lack of supplies. The colony is notable for being one of the first attempts at colonization in New England, predating the more famous Plymouth Colony by a few years. Despite its failure, Popham Colony contributed to the early European exploration and settlement of the region.