Insurance
Company of North America (INA-CIGNA)
The
Eagle Fire Mark 1796
On
November 19, 1792. A group of entrepreneurs led by John Nesbitt and
another gentleman appropriately named Ebenezer Hazard, met in
Philadelphia's Independence Hall, to create the Insurance Company of
North America. INA wrote the first policy covering a ship and its
cargo, in 1792. In 1794 they wrote the first life insurance policy,
covering a sea captain.
When
the great Chicago fire devastated that city in 1871, INA paid its
claims in full. When five square miles of San Francisco were laid to
ruins by the earthquake of 1906, INA was there. In 1920, INA expanded
into the casualty insurance field and established the
Indemnity Insurance Company of North America. They opened for
business with a capital of $1,000,000.
In
1982, the Insurance Company of North America (INA), merged with the
Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CG) forming CIGNA. Before
selling its property & casualty operation to the bermuda-based
ACE Insurance company in 1999, CIGNA was among the companies with the
largest international network in the league of Alliance, AIG and
Zürich
The Eagle
Fire Mark was adopted in 1796 when INA changed from
it's original (1792) symbol which was a six pointed
star. The original Eagle Fire Mark was made of lead and was mounted
on an oval wooden board with a widely beveled edge. The mark was
created by Claudius Francis LeGrand, a French sculptor then living in
Philadelphia.
This
Eagle Mark measures approximately 8.50" X 10.75" and is
a pewter like/look cast metal (non-ferrous)
construction.
It is in good condition, with characteristics of its age and exposure
to the elements which adds to a great vintage/ antique look and feel
in its appearance.
This
is a really nice item and would make an excellent addition for any
collector of fire marks, insurance company memorabilia, or a great
gift for a firefighter, insurance agent/broker, or an insurance
company employee/retiree.
American insurance company's fire marks were placed on the exterior of a house and were intended to discourage malicious arson by showing that the owner would not greatly suffer if the building were destroyed. Additionally, the mark stood as a guarantee to fire brigades that the insurance company which insured the house in question would reward handsomely the brigade extinguishing a blaze on the premises.
