England??? Leading the way??? WHAT history are you reading?? Certainly not planet earth's. The countries "leading the way" were Catholic (Spain, Portugal and France). The main PROTESTANT country in the effort was Holland. England was completely a "Johnny come lately" to the field (see "America--discovery of").
1600 - rough parity between the world’s major civilizations: Islam, India, China, Europe.
1800 - Europe was far in advance, as the others had remained about where they were in 1600.
By 1800 England, by that time the UK, was indeed the leading nation, and they continued to widen that lead during the 19th century. Well, until near the end when Germany and the USA came on like gangbusters.