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.
The Mark is approximately 2.250" X 3.125" and is cast pewter construction with a fireman rushing blowing a trumpet. It is in good condition with a nice vintage look and feel about them.
