s, colonies
, protectorate
s, mandates
and other territories
ruled or administered by the United Kingdom
. It originated with the overseas colonies
and trading post
s 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-quarter of the world's population at the time, and covered more than 33700000 km² (13,011,642.7 sq mi), almost a quarter of the Earth's total land area.
1752 The British Empire adopts the Gregorian calendar, skipping eleven days (the previous day was September 2).
1755 British governor Charles Lawrence and the Nova Scotia Council order the deportation of the Acadians. Thousands of Acadians are sent to the British Colonies in America, France and England. Some later move to Louisiana, while others resettle in New Brunswick.
1756 A British garrison is imprisoned in the Black Hole of Calcutta.
1806 Napoleonic Wars: Forces of the British Empire lay siege to the port of Boulogne in France by using Congreve rockets, invented by Sir William Congreve.
1807 The Slave Trade Act becomes law, abolishing the slave trade in the British Empire.
1819 British explorer William Smith discovers the South Shetland Islands, and claims them in the name of King George III.
1834 Slavery is abolished in the British Empire as the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 comes into force.
1838 Non-labourer slaves in most of the British Empire are emancipated.
1840 Labourer slaves in most of the British Empire are emancipated.
1863 The Maori Wars resumes as British forces in New Zealand led by General Duncan Cameron begin their Invasion of the Waikato.