In 1856, Sir Henry Bessemer developed the Bessemer Process which was a new process created to increase the mass-production of steel in the England.  Before his process, high-quality, expensive metals had to be used to make steel which made this resource such a limited and high commodity.  The Bessemer Process was able to create decent quality steel at a very fast rate which began to phase out the use of iron which had been currently used in many manufacturing companies in England.  On its own, the Bessemer Process jump-started the industrial revolution in England and was now used in all different facets of British life. Bessemer’s process helped develop greater warships, railroads, more efficient factories and much more.  This process, on a technological level, helped the British Empire remain a global power and allowed them to continue to be more than one step ahead of most of the world in almost every aspect.

Source:http://www.makingthemodernworld.org.uk/stories/the_second_industrial_revolution/05.ST.01/?scene=3