Who designed the towns of Annapolis and Williamsburg in the Chesapeake Bay region?

The correct answer is Col. Francis Nicholson. He was instrumental in the planning and development of both Annapolis and Williamsburg, which played a significant role in the early American colonial period. Nicholson's contributions involved the establishment of these towns as important centers of government and trade in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Annapolis was established as the capital of the Maryland colony and is known for its well-planned layout, which reflects the influence of European urban design principles. Similarly, Williamsburg was designated as the capital of the Virginia colony and was developed with a focus on governance and public spaces. The designs of both towns demonstrated an understanding of civic order and community functionality, emphasizing the importance of public buildings and open squares.

While other figures such as Thomas Holme, James Oglethorpe, and Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant were influential in their own right—Holme for his work in Pennsylvania's city planning, Oglethorpe for founding Savannah, and L'Enfant for his role in planning Washington, D.C.—none of them were directly associated with the design of Annapolis and Williamsburg like Col. Francis Nicholson.