The date was 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. More than two centuries later, INA is still going strong as part of the ACE Group of Companies and our U.S. headquarters is within an easy stroll from this historic building.

INA would be a company of imagination, and creativity. It would be a company willing to accept risk and pay claims.

The Insurance Company of North America wrote the first policy covering a ship and its cargo, in 1792. In 1794 INA 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. A pioneer in marine, aviation, homeowners, life and much more, the Insurance Company of North America became part of ACE in 1999 following the acquisition of the Property and Casualty operations of CIGNA.

Click on the thumbnail images below to reveal more about INA and its 200 year history.