Tuesday, May 22, 2012

An Historic First

Way back on this date in 1761, the first life insurance policy sold in America was purchased by the Rev. Francis Allison of Philadelphia. This makes sense, since the company which issued the policy was called the 'Corporation for the Relief of Poor and Distressed Presbyterian Ministers and of the Poor and Distressed Widows and Children of Presbyterian Ministers,' which was "formed by Presbyterians for their ministers."

But wait, it gets even more interesting: according to an item in the February 3, 1902 edition of the New York Times, the company (by then known as the Presbyterian Ministers' Fund), was also the first insurer to offer non-forfeiture options and cash values.

By 1990, the carrier had become the Covenant Life Insurance Company; four years later, it became part of the Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company, which was itself bought by Nationwide 10 years ago.
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