Scottish Insurance Corporation Ltd
The Scottish Insurance Corporation was incorporated on January 12 1877 as the Scottish Accident Insurance Company Ltd. On April 28 2005, the corporation’s general insurance business was transferred to the Ocean Marine Insurance Company Ltd and, on September 25 2007, the company went into liquidation.
Company History
Scottish Insurance Corporation showcard, c.1911
Scottish Insurance Corporation proposal, 1914
Scottish Accident Life and General Insurance Company promotional calendar
Harry Armour, Scottish Insurance Corporation Manager and Secretary
Rt. Hon. Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, C.M.G., Scottish Insurance Corporation Director
Scottish Accident Life and Fidelity Insurance Company prospectus, 1898
Scottish Accident Insurance Company Head Office, 1884
Scottish Accident Life and General Insurance Company pop-up hand in burglary proposal, c.1910
Scottish Accident Life and General Insurance Company burglary proposal, c.1910
The company started business at the end of February 1877 and, according to its prospectus, was established to provide insurance against
"death or bodily injury by accidents of all kinds on the road, rail, or river, while bathing, boating, or hunting, on the street or farm, in the house or office, whether in pursuit of pleasure or business".
The company's first claim amounted to £7 10s and was paid on May 1 1877 to Mr Henry Whittington of Spennymoor. On June 27 1878, the company extended is policies to cover accidental death for
"those passengers and Mariners travelling by sea".
By 1885, the company was calling itself the
"first Scottish Accident Company"
and had paid 1,480 claims. These included £49 to a confectioner in Northampton who fell crossing a garden fence and injured his knee and £300 to the heirs of a butcher in Newcastle who fell into a well and drowned.
In 1896, the company extended its business to include life and fidelity assurance. To reflect this change the company was renamed the Scottish Accident Life and Fidelity Insurance Company Ltd on May 27 1896. On July 17 1906, the company changed its name again to the Scottish Accident Life and General Insurance Company Ltd.
By 1906, the company was offering personal accident, illness, pensions, workmen's compensation, life, endowment, fidelity, motor accident, burglary and housebreaking insurance and, in 1907, it added a fire business. On March 29 1911, the company was renamed the Scottish Insurance Corporation Ltd, which became a subsidiary of the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society in 1919.
The company continued to expand and, by 1934, had added plate glass insurance to its portfolio. By 1963, however, its principal activity was life insurance. In the same year, the company was acquired by the Yorkshire Insurance Company Ltd, which became part of the General Accident Fire & Life Assurance Corporation Ltd in 1967.
Key dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1877 | The company is established |
| 1896 | Name changes to the Scottish Accident Life and Fidelity Insurance Company |
| 1906 | Name changes to the Scottish Accident Life and General Insurance Company |
| 1911 | Name changes to the Scottish Insurance Corporation |
| 1919 | The company becomes a subsidiary of the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society |
| 1963 | The company is acquired by the Yorkshire Insurance Company Ltd |
| 1967 | The Yorkshire becomes part of the General Accident Fire & Life Assurance Corporation |
| 2005 | The company's general insurance business is transferred to the Ocean Marine Insurance Company |
| 2007 | The company goes into liquidation. |
Did you know...?
- In 1885, the company shared offices with the Scottish Plate Glass Insurance Company, whose clerk, Esau, stole money from the company.
- On September 16 1880, the board decided to decline to insure women unless they were
"engaged in business or of independent means".
Head office premises
Edinburgh
| Year | Address |
|---|---|
| 1877 - c1878 | 18 Queen Street |
| by 1878 - 1883 | 77 George Street |
| 1883 - 1969 | 115 George Street (offices extended in 1897; premises known as 113-115 George Street from 1967) |
| 1969 - 1970 | 126-128b George Street |
| Only registered office listed from 1970 | |
London
| Year | Address |
|---|---|
| by 1878 - 1883 | 21 Moorgate Street |
| 1883 - 1888 | 10 King William Street |
| 1888 - 1901 | 27 Nicholas Lane |
| 1901 - 1926 at least | 14 Nicholas Lane |
| by 1934 | 110 Cannon Street |
Perth (registered office)
| Year | Address |
|---|---|
| 1969 - 1983 | General Buildings, Perth |
| 1983 - | Pitheavlis, Perth |
Staff and officials
Manager
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1877 - 1909 | Martin L Martin (also secretary from 1885) |
| 1909 - 1926 | Harry Armour (also secretary) |
| 1927 - 1938 | Arthur J Queen (title changed to general manager) (also secretary) |
| 1938 - 1958 | W L P Dunstall |
| 1959 - 1967 | E R Pappin (also secretary) |
| 1967 - 1969 at least | C F Gibson (also secretary) |
| Position not listed after 1969 | |
Secretary
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| Position created in 1885 | |
| 1885 - 1909 | Martin L Martin (also manager) |
| 1909 - 1926 | Harry Armour (also manager) |
| 1926 - 1927 | Frank R Brander |
| 1927 - 1938 | Arthur J Queen (also manager) |
| 1938 - 1942 at least | John Gower |
| by 1959 - 1967 | E R Pappin (also manager) |
| 1967 - 1969 | C F Gibson (also manager) |
| 1969 - 1982 | L W Mansfield |
| 1982 - 1987 | R G MacDonald |
| 1987 - | R A Whitaker |
Directors (1877)
- Charles Tennant Couper
- General Frederick Nepean-Smith
- Patrick Turnbull
- Henry Moffat
- James Murray (of Callands)
Home agencies
- Middlesbrough (1877)
- Haddington (1877)
- Coupar (1877)
- Galshiels (1877)
- Selkirk (1877)
Home branches
- Dundee (1877)
- London (1877)
- Glasgow (1877)
- Leeds (1877)
- Gloucester (1877)
- Birmingham (1877)
- Bristol (1877)
- Liverpool (1877)
- Manchester (1877)
- Belfast (by 1906)
- Exeter (by 1906)
- Luton (by 1906)
- Middlesbrough (by 1906)
- Newcastle (by 1906)
- Nottingham (by 1906)
- Preston (by 1917)
Overseas branches and agencies
- Dublin, Ireland (1877) (withdrawn in 1881)
- Dublin, Ireland (1901)
- Australia (by 1963)
- Canada (by 1963)
- France (by 1963)
- Holland (by 1963)
In the archives
The Aviva archive contains records relating to the running of the Scottish Insurance Corporation between 1877 and 2005. The collection includes board minute books, committee minute books, scrap books, staff photographs, board of trade returns, life policy registers, specimen policies, annual report and accounts and letter books.
