The first permanent British settlement on the African continent was established on James Island, in the Gambia River, in 1661. Following it, Britain acquired the Cape of Good Hope, which is now in South Africa, in 1806. With this, the South Africa's interior was exposed by Boer and other pioneers under British control.
Nearly all these settlements were established with the help of the companies and magnates, and not by the efforts of the English crown. The crown exercised some rights of appointment and supervision, but the colonies were essentially self-managing establishments. The formation of the empire was a pretty unorganized process; based on step-by-step accomplishments, sometimes with the British government being the least willing partner in the enterprise!.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the crown exercised control over its colonies, mainly in the areas of trade and shipping. At that time, the colonies were regarded as a source of necessary raw materials for England, and were granted ownership for their products, like tobacco and sugar. In return, they were expected to conduct all their trade by means of English ships and to serve as markets for the manufactured goods.
The British military and naval power gained for Britain the two most important parts of the empire: Canada and India. Even the Seven Years" War left Britain dominant in Canada. That is why today there can still be found many French speaking places, like Ontario and so on. Robert Clive's military victories against the French and the rulers of Bengal, in the 1750's, provided the British with a massive increase of territory and ensured their future supremacy in India.
The loss of Britain's thirteen American colonies between 1776 and 1783 was soon compensated by new settlements in Australia, from 1788. And also by the spectacular growth of Upper Canada, which is Ontario today. .
The Napoleonic Wars provided further additions to the empire as well.
