Important firsts
The Aviva Group includes the oldest mutual life insurer, one of the oldest fire insurers, the first company to issue a burglary policy, and the first and only insurance company to hold a royal warrant. We can trace our presence back to 1696 and through over 650 constituents have covered almost every area of insurance all over the world.
Below are details of a selection of innovations and important firsts from throughout our history.
Light to Newcastle
In 1817, the Newcastle upon Tyne Fire Office introduced the system of lighting by gas to Newcastle. The company ran the service until 1830, when it was sold to the Newcastle upon Tyne Subscription Gas Light Company. A (very poor) reproduction copy exists in the archive of the original notice advertising the service. The notice says that on Saturday nights lights may continue burning until 12pm, if required, and that the company will keep an assortment of ornamental lamps with suitable burners and will supply them at original cost.
Peace of mind in the workplace
Employers' Liability Assurance Corporation Ltd was the first insurer to insure employers against losses caused by claims from employees injured at work. The company’s aim was set out in its first prospectus, which stated that “the establishment of this company will enable employers to dispense with the necessity of endeavouring to arrange with their workmen to contract themselves out of the act and, by offering insurance facilities to both masters and men, will solve a question which has already caused a certain amount of ill-feeling between them.” The corporation’s first policy was issued to Frederick Parke of the Withnell Fire Clay Works near Chorley, Lancashire, on May 12 1881.
High fidelity
The Guarantee Society offered the very first fidelity insurance. Taking the place of a wealthy friend or relative, the society guaranteed employers against loss should an individual embezzle or defraud them. The first prospectus was printed on December 13 1839 and, on June 24 1840, the society commenced business.
Firsts in China
In 2005 Aviva-Cofco became the first foreign-invested life insurance company involved in sports-related insurance in China. The company achieved three other "firsts" this year: first foreign-invested life insurance company allowed to operate group insurance; first nationwide foreign-invested life insurance company to acquire a business license for group insurance and first foreign-invested life insurance company to sign a group insurance policy in China.
Quiz
Yorkshire Insurance Company, Dublin branch building
It is believed that the word quiz originated in a building once used by the Yorkshire Insurance Company as its Dublin branch building.
Although not occupied by the company today, 3 College Street, Dublin, was built in 1790, and was known as Daly's Club, which quickly built up a reputation as a famous coffee house and gaming club. It was connected with the Irish House of Lords by an underground passage and it was said that half the land of Ireland changed hands in the Great Card Room.
It was an era of ingenious and amusing wagers and it is believed the word 'quiz' originated in this room. A member successfully wagered that he could concoct a word which overnight would pass into the English language. He left the club in the early hours of Sunday morning and chalked QUIZ in large letters on all doorways leading to the principal City churches. Next morning Dublin awoke to find the vocabulary enriched with everyone burning with curiosity to know what the word meant.
However, the compact edition of the Oxford English Dictionary states: "Of obscure origin; possibly a fanciful coinage, but it is doubtful whether any reliance can be placed on the anecdote of its invention by Daly, a Dublin theatre-manager."
Stealing the lead
The Mercantile Accident & Guarantee Company Ltd. of Glasgow was the first company to offer burglary insurance. F W Rutherford ran the burglary department which started writing risks in June 1889 making £1,400 in premiums in the first year. Some companies, like The General Accident and Employers’ Liability Assurance Association Ltd. soon followed suit but the long-established fire insurance offices saw this type of business as "venturesome speculation".
By Appointment…
General Accident Fire & Life Assurance Corporation Ltd. insured so many members of the Royal family that it was granted a Royal warrant in 1911 the first insurance company to be honoured in this way. To our knowledge the company is the only insurance company to have held this honour as when it was removed it was decided that Royal warrants could only be held by trades people and not by professions.