Queen Victoria was the British monarch who presided over the expansion of the British Empire during the 19th century. Her reign, lasting from 1837 to 1901, was characterized by significant colonial expansion, industrialization, and the establishment of Britain as a global power. During this time, the empire expanded to include territories in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Pacific, famously described as the empire where "the sun never sets." Victoria's reign saw both great wealth and social challenges, and she became a symbol of British imperialism and power, influencing culture and politics well beyond her reign.