HISTORY OF LIFE REASSURANCE

• It is somewhat difficult to trace the history of life reassurance from its inception, but it is clear from such records as are available that reassurance has been transacted for at least a hundred years. In 1849 it appears that a Reassurance Agreement was concluded between certain Scottish offices, which was followed in 1873 by a supplementary Agreement.
• On page 96 of J.I.A. Vol. VIII (1859), there is an article entitled The principles which should regulate the reassurance of risks, and a comment ppears to the effect that at one time a proposition from one company to effect an assurance with another company was looked upon with coldness, if not with suspicion, and this seems to have been due in part to the frequency with which companies offered reassurances to others without any intention of retaining any amount for their own account.

1946 - JIA - SOME OBSERVATIONS ON LIFE REASSURANCE
BY G. T. FOSTER - 27p