We even ran the USA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire
[The British Empire comprised the dominions,
colonies, protectorates, mandates,
and other territories ruled or administered
by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states.
It originated with the overseas possessions
and trading posts established by England
between the late 16th and early 18th centuries.
At its height, it was the largest empire in history and,
for over a century, was the foremost global power.
By 1913, the British Empire held sway over
412 million people, 23% of the world population
at the time, and by 1920, it covered
35,500,000 km2 (13,700,000 sq mi), 24% of the
Earth's total land area.
As a result, its political, legal, linguistic,
and cultural legacy is widespread.
At the peak of its power,
the phrase "the empire on which the sun never sets"
was often used to describe the British Empire,
because its expanse around the globe meant
that the sun was always shining on at
least one of its territories.]
[Origins (1497–1583)
A replica of the Matthew, John Cabot's ship used
for his second voyage to the New World
The foundations of the British Empire were laid
when England and Scotland were separate kingdoms.
In 1496, King Henry VII of England,
following the successes of Spain and Portugal
in overseas exploration,
commissioned John Cabot to lead a voyage
to discover a route to Asia via the North Atlantic.
Cabot sailed in 1497, five years after the
European discovery of America,
but he made landfall on the coast of Newfoundland,
and, mistakenly believing (like Christopher Columbus)
that he had reached Asia,there was no attempt
to found a colony.
Cabot led another voyage to the Americas the
following year but nothing was ever heard of his ships again]