The Great Britain Mutual Life Assurance Society
The society was established under a deed of settlement on February 12 1844 and formally registered under the Joint Stock Companies Act on January 1 1845. It was originally established as a mutual society offering life assurance, annuities and endowments in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Company History
Gt. Britain Mutual Life cover page to Deed of Settlement, 1844
Gt. Britain Mutual Life Receipt for Life Assurance, 1874
The society was incorporated by a special Act of Parliament, which received royal assent on June 30 1862. In 1871, a sister company, the Great Britain Fire Insurance Company, was established to provide fire insurance.
In 1880, an order was placed for the liquidation of the society and, on August 22 1882, it was acquired by the National Assurance Company of Ireland, which was itself acquired by the Yorkshire Insurance Company Ltd in 1906. The Yorkshire became part of the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Ltd in 1967.
Key dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1844 | The society is established |
| 1845 | The society is registered under the Joint Stock Companies Act |
| 1862 | The society is incorporated by a special Act of Parliament |
| 1871 | A sister company, the Great Britain Fire Insurance Company, is established |
| 1880 | An order is placed for the liquidation of the society |
| 1882 | The society is acquired by the National Assurance Company of Ireland |
| 1906 | The National Assurance Company of Ireland is acquired by the Yorkshire Insurance Company |
| 1967 | The Yorkshire becomes part of the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation |
Subsidiaries and constituents*
| Year | Company name |
|---|---|
| 1840 - 1844 | Achilles British & Foreign Life Assurance Association |
| 1867 - 1869 | Imperial Guardian |
| 1869 - 1875 | Bristol and London Assurance Corporation Ltd. |
* Please note the first date given is the date of the establishment of the company and the second date is the date the company was acquired or became a subsidiary. Where only one date is given the company was established as a subsidiary of the parent company. Where one date is preceded by a hyphen the date of the establishment of the company is not known.
Head office premises
| Year | Address |
|---|---|
| 1846 - 1855 at least | 14 Waterloo Place, 79 King William Street, London |
| by 1860 - 1880 | 101 Cheapside, London |
Staff and officials
Managing Director
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| by 1846 - 1855 at least | A R Irvine |
| Managing Director duties performed by the Secretary from 1870 | |
Secretary
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| by 1870 - 1873 at least | Andrew Francis |
| by 1878 - 1880 | E C Fernihough |
| 1880 | A W Dixon |
Actuary
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| by 1870 - 1881 | William M Mekeham |
Directors (1855)
- Mr Chisholm
- Major General Michael E Bagnold
- Francis Brodigan
- Alexander Robert Irvine
- John Inglis Jerdein
- James John Kinloch
- Richard Hartley Kennedy
- Henry Lawson
- William Morley
- Robert Francis Power
- Archibald Spens
- Frederick Valiant
- Rev FWJ Vickery
Home branches and agencies
- Manchester (by 1855)
Overseas
- Russia (by 1863)
In the archives
The Aviva archive contains records relating to the running of the Great Britain Mutual Life Assurance Society between 1844 and 1880. The collection includes premium receipts, agreements and deeds of settlement.
Other resources
Visit the Guildhall library for further resources related to the Great Britain Mutual Life Assurance Society.
