History
1885
The General Accident and Employers Liability Assurance Association was founded in Perth, Scotland, by a group of local businessmen.
1886
General Accident issued its first policy, employer’s liability cover, to John Brown, a cabinet-maker in Perth.
1890
General Accident issued its first burglary policy — becoming only the second company to transact this type of business in the UK.
1894
Head office in Perth had its first telephone installed, and a second typewriter was bought, the first having been acquired two years earlier.
1895
The company offered combined fire and accident cover for the first time.
1896
Issued its first motor insurance policies.
1897
Norwich Union tried (and failed) to take over General Accident. The two companies remained separate for another hundred years until the merger in 2000.
1899
Opened its first European branch (in Belgium), and its first office in the United States (in Philadelphia). It also became a quoted company on the London Stock Exchange.
1902
Opened a branch in France, and moved into Asia by appointing agents in India.
1903
A General Accident advertisement from 1903
Australian agency opened in Melbourne.
1906
Company name changed to General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation with the launch of a life business. Canadian company established in Toronto.
1907
British painter LS Lowry joined General Accident in the Manchester claims office, where he worked as a clerk until 1910. He subsequently became famous for painting bleak industrial towns populated by matchstick figures.
1908
General Accident was the first UK insurer to introduce a no-claims bonus for homeowners by granting a free renewal every sixth year.
1911
Royal Warrant granted to General Accident in 1911
General Accident was granted a Royal Warrant by King George V, having insured cars of the royal household since 1908. GA remained the only insurance company ever to have held a royal warrant, since the royal family subsequently decided to limit royal warrants to goods, rather than goods and services.
1924
An innovative arrangement between General Accident and Morris Motors meant that all Morris cars sold in the UK were provided with a year’s free insurance, the premium being paid by General Accident to the manufacturer.
1925
Local agency opened in Auckland, New Zealand. By the outbreak of the Second World War the company was represented in France, Belgium, Holland, Egypt, South Africa, Australia, India, China, Japan, Hong Kong, the USA, Canada and Argentina.
1942
A General Accident advertisement from the 1940s
General Accident offered a 20pc wartime discount on car insurance premiums since many vehicles were laid up because of petrol rationing. Blackout conditions limited the improvement in motor claims experience.
1956
The Philadelphia office in the US led the way by installing the company’s first computer, an Invec 650 for handling general accounts.
1958
The first telex machines were installed in General Accident’s offices in London and Perth. The company had its first electronic typewriter provided on loan by Olivetti.
1960
General Accident ordered the first computer for its UK business, an IBM 1401, which used punch cards for input and magnetic storage tapes.
1963
Annual premium income passed the £100 million mark.
1967
General Accident took over The Yorkshire Insurance Co (established 1824) and its links with the city of York.
1983
Pitheavlis, the new head office in Perth, was opened. Staff moved from the post office building in Tay Street which had been occupied since 1896.
1988
General Accident set up its own direct selling business, GA Direct, to provide motor insurance over the phone. Two years later, household insurance was also made available this way.
1989
Acquisition of NZI in Australia and New Zealand completed.
1996
General Accident acquired specialist pensions company Provident Mutual (established 1840) — a significant milestone in the development of its life and pensions business. GA also acquired Sabre Insurance in the UK to strengthen its specialist motor insurance presence.
1998
General Accident and Commercial Union merged to form CGU plc.
