The British Empire By DI FU 1558 Queen Elizabeth 1 Period: 1558 to 1603 Queen Elizabeth 1 Reign Period: 1800 to 1899 British acquired some new colonies in Africa 1837 Queen Victoria Period: 1837 to 1901 Start of Queen Victoria Reign 1931 Commonwealth is former 1947 India become indipendent 1956 Suez canal was closed