sub-fonds CLC/B/005/ES04 - EAGLE STAR INSURANCE COMPANY: BUSINESS

Zone d'identification

Cote

CLC/B/005/ES04

Titre

EAGLE STAR INSURANCE COMPANY: BUSINESS

Date(s)

  • 1849-2001 (Création/Production)

Niveau de description

sub-fonds

Étendue matérielle et support

31.15 linear metres

Zone du contexte

Nom du producteur

Notice biographique

Eagle Star was founded in 1904 by Edward Mortimer Mountain, a Lloyd's broker. It began as a marine business under the name British Dominions Marine Insurance Company. Its origins began in 1807 through its constituent companies. Within the first ten years, the company had expanded into general business, fire and motor insurance. In 1911 the name changed to British Dominions General. New departments were opened for accident and employers' liability in 1914. In 1916 the company further expanded into life business. In May 1917 the company became Eagle and British Dominions to reflect the acquisition of Eagle Insurance Company in December 1916. In December 1917, following the merger with the Star, the name changed to Eagle, Star and British Dominions. In 1937 the company name was shortened to Eagle Star.

Edward Mountain was knighted for his contribution to insurance in 1918, by which time the company had become the largest composite offices in the United Kingdom. Advertising was a key component in the success of the company, mainly through the work of A F Shepherd, Publicity Manager. All-In policy (1915) and Victory War Loan (1917) were launched with high-level publicity campaigns. Between the First and Second World Wars further schemes included free newspaper insurance, Pluvius weather underwriting business, and an department specialising in women's insurance needs. Expansion saw the development of a network of agencies and branches in United Kingdom and abroad, supported by local boards consisting of business and professional men from each region. After 1945 further extensions to the network were made alongside the establishment and acquisition of companies world-wide including specialist insurance companies such as Navigators and General, and Home and Overseas.

Sir Edward Mountain died in 1948 and business continued under the leadership of his son Sir Brian Mountain. Sir Brian's son Denis succeeded him as Chairman in 1974 until his retirement in 1985. Staff clubs included Eagle Dramatic and Operatic Society. This began with Norwood Club Dramatic and Musical Society in 1921 from staff at Eagle Star British Dominions and Cox's Bank. In 1927 the society was closed and EDOS was established. The last production was 1939.

Eagle Star's first head office was at 1 Threadneedle Street, City of London (1925). With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, administrative functions were evacuated to Cobham Park, Surrey, while other departments were housed in the Cobham area. After 1945, the head office at Threadneedle Street was rebuilt and re-opened in 1968. New administrative head office and computer centre was opened in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, as Eagle Star House. The name changed to Eagle Star Centre in 1994. The building became known as UK Life Tower in 1999 and was sold in 2003.

In 1984 Eagle Star became part of B.A.T Industries plc and saw diversification into financial services. In 1998 it became part of Zurich Financial Services Group.

Histoire archivistique

CLC/B/005/ES04 1849-2001 Sub-fonds 31.15 linear metres Eagle Star Insurance Co Ltd

British Dominions Marine Insurance Co

British Dominions General

Eagle and British Dominions

Eagle Insurance Co

Eagle, Star and British Dominions

Eagle Star was founded in 1904 by Edward Mortimer Mountain, a Lloyd's broker. It began as a marine business under the name British Dominions Marine Insurance Company. Its origins began in 1807 through its constituent companies. Within the first ten years, the company had expanded into general business, fire and motor insurance. In 1911 the name changed to British Dominions General. New departments were opened for accident and employers' liability in 1914. In 1916 the company further expanded into life business. In May 1917 the company became Eagle and British Dominions to reflect the acquisition of Eagle Insurance Company in December 1916. In December 1917, following the merger with the Star, the name changed to Eagle, Star and British Dominions. In 1937 the company name was shortened to Eagle Star.

Edward Mountain was knighted for his contribution to insurance in 1918, by which time the company had become the largest composite offices in the United Kingdom. Advertising was a key component in the success of the company, mainly through the work of A F Shepherd, Publicity Manager. All-In policy (1915) and Victory War Loan (1917) were launched with high-level publicity campaigns. Between the First and Second World Wars further schemes included free newspaper insurance, Pluvius weather underwriting business, and an department specialising in women's insurance needs. Expansion saw the development of a network of agencies and branches in United Kingdom and abroad, supported by local boards consisting of business and professional men from each region. After 1945 further extensions to the network were made alongside the establishment and acquisition of companies world-wide including specialist insurance companies such as Navigators and General, and Home and Overseas.

Sir Edward Mountain died in 1948 and business continued under the leadership of his son Sir Brian Mountain. Sir Brian's son Denis succeeded him as Chairman in 1974 until his retirement in 1985. Staff clubs included Eagle Dramatic and Operatic Society. This began with Norwood Club Dramatic and Musical Society in 1921 from staff at Eagle Star British Dominions and Cox's Bank. In 1927 the society was closed and EDOS was established. The last production was 1939.

Eagle Star's first head office was at 1 Threadneedle Street, City of London (1925). With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, administrative functions were evacuated to Cobham Park, Surrey, while other departments were housed in the Cobham area. After 1945, the head office at Threadneedle Street was rebuilt and re-opened in 1968. New administrative head office and computer centre was opened in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, as Eagle Star House. The name changed to Eagle Star Centre in 1994. The building became known as UK Life Tower in 1999 and was sold in 2003.

In 1984 Eagle Star became part of B.A.T Industries plc and saw diversification into financial services. In 1998 it became part of Zurich Financial Services Group.

Accessioned as part of the Eagle Star Insurance Company archive.

Business records of Eagle Star Insurance Company, including papers relating to marine, fire, motor, life, pluvius and general insurance; papers relating to war loan, branches, agents and overseas organisation; and publicity material.

These records are arranged as follows:

CLC/B/005/ES04/01 General

CLC/B/005/ES04/02 Marine

CLC/B/005/ES04/03 Fire

CLC/B/005/ES04/04 Motor

CLC/B/005/ES04/05 All-In

CLC/B/005/ES04/06 War loan

CLC/B/005/ES04/07 Free newspaper and coupon insurance

CLC/B/005/ES04/08 Pluvius

CLC/B/005/ES04/09 Life

CLC/B/005/ES04/10 Branches (United Kingdom)

CLC/B/005/ES04/11 Agents

CLC/B/005/ES04/12 Publicity

CLC/B/005/ES04/13 Overseas Organisation

48 hours notice required for access.

Copyright to this collection rests with the City of London.

English.

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

For other records of Eagle Star Insurance Company see CLC/B/005/ES01: Corporate; CLC/B/005/ES02: Shares; CLC/B/005/ES03: Financial and Accounting; CLC/B/005/ES05: Premises; CLC/B/005/ES06: Staff; CLC/B/005/ES07: Acquisitions. Part of the records of the Eagle Star Insurance Company Limited, CLC/B/005.

Eagle Star, A Guide to its History and Archivesprepared by Zurich Group Archives.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Added to AIM25 April 2012. Insurance Companies Eagle Star Insurance Co Ltd Finance Enterprises

Source immédiate d'acquisition ou de transfert

Accessioned as part of the Eagle Star Insurance Company archive.

Zone du contenu et de la structure

Portée et contenu

Business records of Eagle Star Insurance Company, including papers relating to marine, fire, motor, life, pluvius and general insurance; papers relating to war loan, branches, agents and overseas organisation; and publicity material.

Évaluation, élimination et calendrier de conservation

Accroissements

Mode de classement

These records are arranged as follows:

CLC/B/005/ES04/01 General

CLC/B/005/ES04/02 Marine

CLC/B/005/ES04/03 Fire

CLC/B/005/ES04/04 Motor

CLC/B/005/ES04/05 All-In

CLC/B/005/ES04/06 War loan

CLC/B/005/ES04/07 Free newspaper and coupon insurance

CLC/B/005/ES04/08 Pluvius

CLC/B/005/ES04/09 Life

CLC/B/005/ES04/10 Branches (United Kingdom)

CLC/B/005/ES04/11 Agents

CLC/B/005/ES04/12 Publicity

CLC/B/005/ES04/13 Overseas Organisation

Zone des conditions d'accès et d'utilisation

Conditions d'accès

48 hours notice required for access.

Conditions de reproduction

Copyright to this collection rests with the City of London.

Langue des documents

  • anglais

Écriture des documents

  • latin

Notes de langue et graphie

English.

Caractéristiques matérielle et contraintes techniques

For other records of Eagle Star Insurance Company see CLC/B/005/ES01: Corporate; CLC/B/005/ES02: Shares; CLC/B/005/ES03: Financial and Accounting; CLC/B/005/ES05: Premises; CLC/B/005/ES06: Staff; CLC/B/005/ES07: Acquisitions. Part of the records of the Eagle Star Insurance Company Limited, CLC/B/005.

Instruments de recherche

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Zone des sources complémentaires

Existence et lieu de conservation des originaux

Existence et lieu de conservation des copies

Unités de description associées

Descriptions associées

Zone des notes

Identifiant(s) alternatif(s)

Mots-clés

Mots-clés - Sujets

Mots-clés - Lieux

Mots-clés - Noms

Mots-clés - Genre

Zone du contrôle de la description

Identifiant de la description

Identifiant du service d'archives

London Metropolitan Archives

Règles et/ou conventions utilisées

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Statut

Niveau de détail

Dates de production, de révision, de suppression

Langue(s)

  • anglais

Écriture(s)

    Sources

    Zone des entrées