The British Empire.

The British Empire was established by England in the late 16^th and early 17^th centuries. It was the largest empire that the world has ever know and for over a century the foremost global power. People used to say that “the sun never sets on the British Empire" because it’s span across the globe ensured that the sun was always shining on at least one of its numerous territories.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/80013/British-Empire

wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire