Yorkshire Insurance Company

The Yorkshire Insurance Company was an English insurance company.

History

The company was founded in 1824, in York, as the Yorkshire Fire and Life Insurance Company.^[1] Its objects were initially "to effect insurance against loss by fire and on lives and survivorships and the sale and purchase of annuities and reversions and the endowment of children".^[2] In November 1824, the company purchased a fire engine,^[1] and from 1830 until 1876, it operated the fire brigade for the city of York.^[3] In 1847, it constructed its headquarters building on St Helen's Square in the city.^[4] In 1908, the company adopted its final name, and registered as a limited company.^[1]

The company took over the following insurance companies:

• 1907: National Assurance Company of Ireland^[2]
• 1912: London and Provincial Marine and General Insurance Company^[2]
• 1913: Scottish Boiler and General Insurance Company^[2]
• 1914: Guarantee Society^[2]
• 1918: Ulster Marine Insurance Company^[2]
• 1920: National Safe Deposit and Trustee Company^[2]
• 1921: Lancashire and Yorkshire Reversionary Interest Company^[2]
• 1922: Commercial Insurance Company of Ireland^[2]
• 1955: Farmers' Finance and Insurance Office^[2]
• 1961: Celtic Insurance Company^[2]
• 1963: Scottish Insurance Corporation^[2]

In 1967, the majority of the company's shares were bought by the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation, which purchased the remainder in 1968.^[5] Following this, General Accident's life insurance section, General Life, was renamed "Yorkshire-General Life", which it remained until 1985.^[2]