We British ruled the waves for centuries with our merchant fleets.  The sun never set on our fleets, from one side of the world to the other.  We bought and sold anywhere there were people, and the riches of the world flowed through our ports.  London.  Philadelphia.  Boston.  Our ships called the greatest seaports in the entire world their homes.  It was an amazing time for us.  Our merchant fleets made us kings of the world in every way that mattered.