The Liverpool Marine Assurance Company
Quote from Ted Scaplehorn on 15 January 2020, 19:32We've received the following request from Keith Nichol:
"Further to the above-mentioned article penned by A J.Barratt, included in a compendium of papers under your aegis, by chance I recently acquired a share certificate issued by The Liverpool Marine Assurance Company on the 23rd January,1844 to George Henderson, Liverpool Merchant. My research indicates he was also a founder and director of shipping company P.Henderson & Co.,Glasgow, and also in business as Geo. Henderson & Co in Calcutta. A book entitled "Paddy Henderson" by Dorothy Laird is a most interesting history of the shipping company, with various references to George Henderson.
The 1960 centenary publication of the Thames And Mersey Marine Insurance Company Limited in my possession lists The Liverpool Marine Assurance Company as formed in 1869 (and liquidated in 1871). Clearly, the former date cannot be correct, and importantly it seems the Liverpool Marine was probably the first such company incorporated pursuant to the Joint Stock Companies Act,1844, prior to which incorporation was possible only by royal charter or private act (hence the monopoly of The London Assurance and Royal Exchange Assurance companies in marine insurance since 1720).
I should greatly value a sight of any Liverpool newspaper announcements of this period regarding the Liverpool Marine and, of course, the deed of settlement, were this by any chance available. I gather that the most likely way of locating same would involve a personal search in the Liverpool City Council - Liverpool Records Office. As a retired marine insurance professional with a keen interest in the marine heritage of my former industry, I should very much like to undertake such an assignment. However, being 77 years of age and living way down south in East Sussex this is not particularly feasible. Any assistance that someone in your society might be able to offer would, therefore, be greatly appreciated. The only other avenue might possibly be explored is through the heirs of George Henderson and the shipping company but here I have no obvious channel of contact."
If anyone would like to help Mr Nichol, he can be contacted by email at keith.nichol450@btinternet.com. If you do get in touch with him, could you please let me know as well.
We've received the following request from Keith Nichol:
"Further to the above-mentioned article penned by A J.Barratt, included in a compendium of papers under your aegis, by chance I recently acquired a share certificate issued by The Liverpool Marine Assurance Company on the 23rd January,1844 to George Henderson, Liverpool Merchant. My research indicates he was also a founder and director of shipping company P.Henderson & Co.,Glasgow, and also in business as Geo. Henderson & Co in Calcutta. A book entitled "Paddy Henderson" by Dorothy Laird is a most interesting history of the shipping company, with various references to George Henderson.
The 1960 centenary publication of the Thames And Mersey Marine Insurance Company Limited in my possession lists The Liverpool Marine Assurance Company as formed in 1869 (and liquidated in 1871). Clearly, the former date cannot be correct, and importantly it seems the Liverpool Marine was probably the first such company incorporated pursuant to the Joint Stock Companies Act,1844, prior to which incorporation was possible only by royal charter or private act (hence the monopoly of The London Assurance and Royal Exchange Assurance companies in marine insurance since 1720).
I should greatly value a sight of any Liverpool newspaper announcements of this period regarding the Liverpool Marine and, of course, the deed of settlement, were this by any chance available. I gather that the most likely way of locating same would involve a personal search in the Liverpool City Council - Liverpool Records Office. As a retired marine insurance professional with a keen interest in the marine heritage of my former industry, I should very much like to undertake such an assignment. However, being 77 years of age and living way down south in East Sussex this is not particularly feasible. Any assistance that someone in your society might be able to offer would, therefore, be greatly appreciated. The only other avenue might possibly be explored is through the heirs of George Henderson and the shipping company but here I have no obvious channel of contact."
If anyone would like to help Mr Nichol, he can be contacted by email at keith.nichol450@btinternet.com. If you do get in touch with him, could you please let me know as well.
Quote from Ted Scaplehorn on 1 June 2020, 19:04Mr Nichol has since added the following:
"Thank you for posting my original enquiry of 15/1/2020 on this subject.
Subsequently, subscribing to the British Newspaper Archive, through back copies of "The Liverpool Mercury", I was able to establish that the Liverpool Marine was floated as early as 1830 (much earlier than the date suggested in the Thames and Mersey centenary booklet i.e.1869), this latter date in fact being when winding-up proceedings commenced. It was obviously active in the meantime as its shares were quoted continuously on the Liverpool Exchange during the intervening period! I hope my shareholder George Henderson still found it a rewarding investment alongside his seagoing and merchant activities with P. Henderson & Co.
Interestingly, in addition, I discovered his own company, George Henderson & Co. were appointed in 1879 as agents in Calcutta for the North British & Mercantile Ins Co (one of the companies forming the Group for which I worked in my career). Also, P. Henderson &Co. Ships Agents & Insurance Brokers, London Office address was 4 Fenchurch Avenue,EC3, where I worked as a member of the underwriting team of The Indemnity Marine Assurance Co (another of our Group companies) in 1983/84. Life is full of co-incidences, it seems!"
Mr Nichol has since added the following:
"Thank you for posting my original enquiry of 15/1/2020 on this subject.
Subsequently, subscribing to the British Newspaper Archive, through back copies of "The Liverpool Mercury", I was able to establish that the Liverpool Marine was floated as early as 1830 (much earlier than the date suggested in the Thames and Mersey centenary booklet i.e.1869), this latter date in fact being when winding-up proceedings commenced. It was obviously active in the meantime as its shares were quoted continuously on the Liverpool Exchange during the intervening period! I hope my shareholder George Henderson still found it a rewarding investment alongside his seagoing and merchant activities with P. Henderson & Co.
Interestingly, in addition, I discovered his own company, George Henderson & Co. were appointed in 1879 as agents in Calcutta for the North British & Mercantile Ins Co (one of the companies forming the Group for which I worked in my career). Also, P. Henderson &Co. Ships Agents & Insurance Brokers, London Office address was 4 Fenchurch Avenue,EC3, where I worked as a member of the underwriting team of The Indemnity Marine Assurance Co (another of our Group companies) in 1983/84. Life is full of co-incidences, it seems!"
