1848 - 1878

1848

Prudential is established as the Prudential Mutual Assurance Investment and Loan Association in Hatton Garden, London, offering loans and life assurance to professional people.

1856

Prudential introduces infantile insurance policies allowing parents to insure the lives of children under ten. The new product opens up a huge market for Prudential and the volume of sales begins to grow dramatically.

1865

Prudential acquires The Consolidated Life Assurance Company and becomes The British Prudential and Consolidated Assurance Company. The Company name is shortened to The Prudential Assurance Company the following year.

1854

Prudential opens the Industrial Department to sell a new type of insurance, Industrial Insurance, to the working (industrious) classes, for premiums of a penny and upwards. Prudential develops a new system for providing insurance to this market based on door-to-door agents supported by actuarial tables, sound investment and efficient administration.

1860

Prudential acquires its main rival The British Industry Life Assurance Company and becomes The British Prudential Assurance Company. The British Industry brings to Prudential a large number of established customers and an experienced team of agents in the north of England.

1871

The company becomes the first in the City to employ women with the opening of the Lady Clerks department. Calculating machines are also introduced in this year, to save time with processing an increasing volume of business.