The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. By 1922 the British Empire held sway over about 458 million people, one-fifth of the world's population at the time, and covered more than 33,700,000 km² (13,012,000 sq mi), almost a quarter of the Earth's total land area. As a result, its political, linguistic and cultural legacy is widespread. At the peak of its power, it was often said that "the sun never sets on the British Empire" because its span across the globe ensured that the sun was always shining on at least one of its numerous territories.

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British Empire
British Empire (historical) The United Kingdom together with its dominions, colonies, dependencies, trust territories and protectorates; became ...

British
As a noun, referring to the British people, British soldiers, etc. from ca. ... Commonwealth of Nations, or the British Empire. (historical) Of the ancient inhabitants ...

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Jan Smuts
The British Empire is the greatest stimulant of organised freedom which the ... by political maturity, by character, the British have a part to play which no ...

American Revolution
In this period, the colonies united against the British Empire and entered into the armed conflict known as ... would have shortly put an end to British dominion in America. ...

Winston Churchill
Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, ...