Extending the question, how was the process to achieve this? I know it began with the Anglo-Spanish war, but what happened next? How did they overcome the Dutch navy and expand their commerce? What changed in the English government? How did the parliament gain power and which policies did they established to transform England in an empire? Did the arrival of William III of Orange produced any changes in the politics of England?
Here are some older answers that may be useful to you:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3pn7v5/what_changes_occurred_in_the_construction/
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2709jm/how_would_a_britishhms_frigate_built_in_1715/