Who backed the first colonization efforts undertaken by the English in the new world?

The first colonization efforts undertaken by the English in the New World were primarily backed by Sir Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth I. Raleigh received a charter from the queen to establish a colony in North America, leading to the establishment of the Roanoke Colony in 1585. This venture, although ultimately unsuccessful, marked the beginning of English attempts to colonize the continent. The support from the monarchy was crucial in providing the necessary funding and legitimacy for these early efforts.