Life Assurance – the beginnings and growth in practise and responsibility

Life assurance dates back to prehistory. Wherever there is life, there is risk to health, and that risk has a significant impact on people’s lives, not just the individuals but also on loved ones. Life assurance has reduced the financial impact over the centuries, but it has evolved from simple “funeral clubs” into a complex commercial sector. This webinar will examine the history of life assurance, covering how it operated historically, how it developed in the 17th century into a more profitable practice, and how it responded to relatively recent events toward the end of the 20^th century.

This is a presentation by Howard Benge, Director of the Insurance Museum. His background is in heritage, archives, museums, and archaeological sites, and he has been tasked with establishing a physical museum based on the story of insurance.