| Phoenix Assurance | |
| Type: | Public |
| Industry: | Insurance |
| Fate: | Acquired by Sun Alliance |
| Location: | London, UK |
The Phoenix Assurance Company Limited was an English insurance company that existed from 1782 to 1984.[1]
The company was established in London in 1782.[2] At that time, the company employed red-coated attendants clattering to the fires of London on horse-drawn tenders.[3]
The Phoenix figured in case law. In 1796, the company refused to pay damages awarded of £3,000 (2021: £) following a 1792 fire at a house in Tavistock Street, London. Phoenix claimed that the owners had failed to obtain a certificate from the ministers and churchwardens of the parish affirming the good character of the victims. Phoenix issued a writ of error to appeal against the original decision.[4]
Phoenix diversified into life insurance, establishing the Pelican Life Office in 1797.[5] In 1907 Phoenix reabsorbed Pelican Life Assurance, at that time known as the Pelican and British Empire Life Office, becoming a composite insurer.[5]
The company built a new head office at 3-7 King William Street, erected in 1915,[6] on a design by John Macvicar Anderson and his son Henry Lennox Anderson.[7] It was known as Phoenix House while the seat of the company from 1915 to 1983; the name later went to another building at No. 18 in the same street.[8]
Sun Alliance & London acquired Phoenix Assurance in 1984.[9] In 2004, Resolution Life acquired the life insurance operations of RSA. The following year, Resolution acquired the UK operations of Swiss Life, and merged RSA Life and Swiss Life into a new group called Phoenix Life.[10] In 2008, Pearl Group acquired Resolution Life, and in 2010 Pearl Group renamed itself Phoenix Group.[11]
