Commercial Insurance Co of Ireland Ltd (No. 2)
The second Commercial Insurance Company of Ireland was incorporated in Belfast on April 7 1919. On August 30 1922, the company was acquired by the Yorkshire Insurance Company Ltd, which became part of the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Ltd in 1967.
Company History
Commercial Insurance Company of Ireland (No.2) headed notepaper
The company was registered to undertake all classes of insurance, except life and bond insurance. On July 7 1919, it commenced fire business. The company added marine insurance in October 1920 but quickly found the business to be unprofitable and closed the account in 1921.
Following its acquisition by the Yorkshire, the company began to undertake general insurance and, by 1933, was offering fire, motor, employers' liability and livestock insurance. Company minutes from 1936 also make reference to a life department.
By 1988, the company's principal activity was to earn money from investments and, by 1996, it could more accurately be described as an investment holding company. The company became a subsidiary of General Accident on January 1 1971 and was liquidated on April 22 2003.
Key dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1919 | The company is established |
| 1922 | The company is acquired by the Yorkshire Insurance Company |
| 1971 | Becomes a subsidiary of General Accident |
| 2003 | The company is liquidated |
Did you know...?
- In 1923, company manager John E Kelly wrote
"in spite of all my difficulties I shall do my utmost to make this little Irish Company a bright emerald Jewel in the Yorkshire crown"
Head office premises
Belfast
| Year | Address |
|---|---|
| 1919 - 1920 | 27 Donegall Place |
| 1920 - 1972 | 10 Donegall Square South |
| 1972 - 1982 | 5 Donegall Square South |
Staff/ officials
Manager
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1919 - 1920 | J Rutherford Stoddart (also secretary) |
| 1920 - 1931 | John E Kelly ( to 1921 joint general manager) |
| 1920 - 1921 | George Purchon (joint general manager) |
| 1931 - 1946 | John B Hirst |
| 1946 - 1957 | S C Steel |
| 1957 - 1963 | A G Bellwood |
| 1963 - 1965 | E R Dixon |
| 1965 - 1973 | P M Wilson |
| 1973 - 1981 | J A Robinson (from 1974 also secretary) |
| No manager listed after 1981 | |
Secretary
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1919 - 1920 | Mr J Rutherford Stoddart (also manager) |
| 1920 - 1959 | Robert Bryans |
| 1959 - 1969 | John H Morton |
| 1969 - 1974 | W M Woods |
| 1974 - 1981 | J A Robinson |
| 1981 - 1982 | L W Mansfield |
| 1982 - 1987 | R G MacDonald |
| 1987 - 1997 | R A Whitaker |
Directors (1921)
- William Barnett
- Thomas R Burns
- O B Graham
- R B Henry
- H M Pollock
- Thomas Somerset
- John E Wellwood
Home branches and agencies
- Londonderry (1919)
- London (1919)
- Armagh (by 1968)
Overseas branches and agencies
- Dublin, Ireland (1919)
- Antwerp, Belgium (by 1922)
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (by 1922)
- Constantiople (Instanbul) Turkey (by 1922)
- Egypt (by 1922)
- Rotterdam, Netherlands (by 1922)
- Myanmar (Burma) (by 1922)
- Saigon, Vietnam (by 1922)
- Shanghai, China (by 1922)
- Tientsin (Tianjin), China (by 1922)
- Barbados (by 1922)
- Carlow, Ireland (by 1968)
- Cavan, Ireland (by 1968)
- Cork, Ireland (by 1968)
- Kells, Ireland (by 1968)
- Nenagh, Ireland (by1968)
- Tuam, Ireland (by 1968)
In the archives
The Aviva archive contains records relating to the running of the second Commercial Insurance Company of Ireland between 1919 and 1997. The collection includes board and general minutes, annual reports and accounts, journals, branded material, registers of members and registers of transfers.
