Southern United Fire Insurance Co history

In July 1856, Continental began issuing participating policies, which not only granted policyholders a part of the company's profits, but also made them liable to the same extent for any losses.

The company also donated $500 for the establishment of a local guard for the city's financial institutions while the militia was away fighting; that guard was called out in July 1863, when 50,000 demonstrators took to the streets to protest unfair draft laws.

In December 1864, Continental contributed $500 for the establishment of a full-time professional fire department in New York City.

On October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire erupted . Fanned by fierce winds, the blaze lasted for two days and wiped out 7,450 buildings on 2,000 acres.

On July 28, 1885, Continental's president, George T. Hope, died at the age of 67.

In 1902 Moore retired, having boosted the company's assets to $13 million.

In 1911, Continental began issuing automobile insurance.

In 1918, the group adopted the slogan as its official name.

Robertson resigned in 1924 after Henry Evans's death and joined a New York brokerage.

The company's stock price plummeted from 104 1/2 to 46 1/2 between September and November 1929.

Ships carrying cargoes through the war zones were at great risk, and by September 1939, Continental was once again offering full war coverage.

In 1942, he returned to America Fore as a corporate secretary.

After the war, general prosperity accelerated Continental's growth, but a number of catastrophes, including a severe rain and wind storm that ripped through 11 northeastern states in November 1950, caused extensive damage.

In 1959 the Continental Insurance Company and Fidelity-Phenix merged through a stock conversion.

In 1960 the America Fore Loyalty Group, as it was then called, began a corporate restructuring to simplify its management.

In 1966 it bought the Boston Marine Insurance Company and became involved in the life insurance trade with the purchase of a substantial share of Franklin Life Insurance Company of Springfield, Illinois.

He remained chairman and CEO until his retirement in 1970, after 53 years in the insurance business.

In 1971 Continental introduced the first no-fault automobile coverage in 43 states.

Two marine insurance subsidiaries, MOA and Appleton & Cox, were merged into the Marine Office-Appleton Cox--later renamed the Marine Office of America Corporation (MOAC), and in 1972 Operation Sacred Cow was initiated to streamline the company's operations.

In 1973 Wentworth adapted the plan to cover the needs of individuals.

On April 3, 1974, a series of more than 100 tornadoes blasted through the area from Georgia to Michigan.

In 1975 the company bought heavily in Latin American countries, including a controlling interest of the Guatemalan insurer, Commercial Aseguradora Suizo Americana, S.A., and minority interests in several companies in Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Argentina, and Venezuela.

In 1976 Continental bought the Unionamerica Insurance Group, an insurer of specialized risks, and reorganized the companies into the Swett and Crawford Groups.

When high interest rates brought increased return on equity and debt investments in 1979, property and casualty insurers lowered their premiums to gain market share, since the difference could be made up through investment gains.

In 1981 Continental launched Continental Risk Services, a subsidiary intended to help companies manage risks.