The Two Empires referred to are usually up to 1780's and afterwards. The 13 colonies lost being the end of the first empire.

There was an ealier English Empire which owned various parts of France from
William I to Mary I.

It is very important to emphasise British , rather than English , for the Empire past 1700 odd , because pro rata the Scots were by far the biggest contributor to the Empire ( both in explorers , adminstrators , Military and settlers )