It seems the argument comes from the fact that private companies set out to the future colonies only for commercial/economic reasons. Therefore this somewhow makes it "accidental" that the areas in which they settled later became colonies. However when you look closer, you can see that these companies were actually given royal charters by monarchs with the goal of setting up colonies and settlements. I even read that in the case of the colony of virginia, the first official american colony by the british, the charter stated that the intent was to propagate christianity. Not sure how this makes it "accidental" whatsoever. These private companies like the british east india company, the hudsons bay company, virginia company, that were all given charters, just seemed like a different way of approaching colonization as compared to the other european superpowers. And because of the fact that every area these companies went to later became official crown colonies, it makes no sense as to how its accidental. Anyone that knows more care to explain?