The Ledger

The LedgerThe LedgerThe Ledger

The Ledger

The LedgerThe LedgerThe Ledger
  • Home
  • Why
  • Definitions & Sources
  • More
    • Home
    • Why
    • Definitions & Sources
Start The Ledger
  • Home
  • Why
  • Definitions & Sources
Start The Ledger

A History of Insurance (Parts 1 - 5):

Insurance

A financial product where an individual or entity receives financial protection against losses from an insurance company in exchange for a fee (premium).

Premium

The regular payment an individual or business makes to an insurance company for an insurance policy. 

Marine Insurance

Insurance that covers the loss or damage of ships, cargo, and any transport by which property is transferred.

Fire Insurance

A form of property insurance that covers damage and losses caused by fire.

Pooling of Risk

The core insurance principle of spreading risk across a large number of people so that the financial impact of any single loss is manageable for the group. 

Reverend Alexander Webster & Reverend Robert Wallace

The two Church of Scotland ministers who were the primary architects of the first actuarially sound life insurance fund in 1744.

Colin Maclaurin

The brilliant mathematician who provided the crucial statistical calculations that made the fund financially sustainable.

Life Insurance

A contract where an insurer promises to pay a beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person, in exchange for regular premium payments.

Actuarial Principles

The mathematical and statistical methods used to assess and price risk, based on the probability of future events.

Annuity

A financial product that provides a series of regular payments to an individual, often for the rest of their life. 

Commercial Insurance

Insurance provided by for-profit companies to the general public, as opposed to a private fund for a specific group.

Scottish Widows

The Scottish Widows' Fund and Life Assurance Society, founded in 1815, was one of the first and most important commercial life insurance companies. 

Henry Baldwin Hyde

The visionary founder of The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States in 1859.

The Equitable Life Assurance Society

One of the most important and influential early American life insurance companies.

Life, Fire, and Casualty Insurance

The major lines of insurance that grew during this period to cover the diverse risks of an industrializing nation.

Capital Markets

The financial markets where long-term instruments like stocks and bonds are traded. The insurance industry became a key player in these markets. 

Automobile & Health Insurance

New forms of insurance that emerged in the 20th century to cover the specific risks of modern life.

Institutional Investors

Large organizations, such as insurance companies and pension funds, that invest vast sums of money on behalf of others.

Capital Markets

The financial markets where long-term instruments like stocks and bonds are traded.

Regulation

Rules and laws established by government authorities to supervise and control an industry to ensure its stability and protect consumers. 

Variable Annuities / Universal Life Insurance

Complex financial products that combine a traditional insurance component with an investment or savings element.

Sources for A History of Insurance (Part 1): The London Experiment

  • "The History of Life Insurance in the United Kingdom" by Oliver Anderson
  • "Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk" by Peter L. Bernstein
  • World History Encyclopedia, "History of Insurance"
  • "The Great Fire of London" by Stephen Porter

Sources for A History of Insurance (Part 2): The Scottish Pioneers

  • "The History of Life Insurance in the United Kingdom" by Oliver Anderson
  • "Scottish Life Assurance: 1815-1975" by R.G. Wilson and A.S. Hogg
  • "Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk" by Peter L. Bernstein
  • World History Encyclopedia, "History of Insurance"

Sources for A History of Insurance (Part 3): The Commercial Revolution

  • "The History of Life Insurance in the United Kingdom" by Oliver Anderson
  • "Scottish Life Assurance: 1815-1975" by R.G. Wilson and A.S. Hogg
  • "Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk" by Peter L. Bernstein
  • World History Encyclopedia, "History of Insurance"

Sources for A History of Insurance (Part 4): The American Ascent

  • "A History of Insurance in the United States" by B. Hammond
  • "The Story of Life Insurance" by Burton J. Hendrick
  • "Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk" by Peter L. Bernstein
  • Historical records of The Equitable Life Assurance Society.

Sources for A History of Insurance (Part 5): The Modern Era

  • "Risk and Reward: The Story of American Insurance" by Richard J. Whalen
  • "Insurance: A Very Short Introduction" by Kenneth L. Hoggins
  • "Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk" by Peter L. Bernstein
  • World History Encyclopedia, "History of Insurance"

Copyright © 2026 The Ledger - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by

  • Home
  • Why
  • Definitions & Sources
  • Contact
  • FAQs

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept