Which products did the UK dominate the global market for in the 19th century?

The 19th century was Britain's powerhouse era, largely thanks to the Industrial Revolution. Think of it as a period of massive technological and economic transformation. Britain had a head start due to its natural resources and inventions. Coal was essential as the primary fuel source for steam engines, powering factories and transportation. Iron was crucial for building those factories, railways, and ships. And cotton cloth? Well, Britain's textile mills, particularly in Lancashire, became world leaders in mass-producing cotton goods, using raw cotton imported from places like America and India. This combination of coal, iron, and cotton cloth fueled Britain's economic dominance, making it the world's leading manufacturer and exporter. While Britain certainly enjoyed a pint of beer and smoked tobacco, and rubber was becoming important, these weren't the products that defined its global market dominance like the "big three" of coal, iron, and cotton cloth.