The Union Insurance Society of Canton

HF: Our recently posted article, S. H. Dodwell, Managing Director of Dodwell and Company Ltd, linked below, includes “At the present moment he, (Dodwell), is Chairman of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Corporation, the Union Insurance Society of Canton…” I had not come across the latter and was intrigued.

The Union Insurance Society of Canton (commonly known as the Union) was a major Hong Kong-based insurance company regarded in the early 20th century as one of the four leading British businesses, or “hongs”, of colonial Hong Kong alongside Hong Kong Shanghai Bank, Jardine Matheson and Swire. By 1953 Union was the leading Hong Kong Insurance company, with assets of £14.4m, over five times that of the nearest local rival, Canton Insurance. In 1967 the Union was acquired by the Guardian Assurance Company which was itself acquired by Axa in 1999. Notable employees and directors of the Union included William Keswick, William Shenton, Arthur William Hughes, A. O. Lang, Stanley Hudson Dodwell, Percy Hobson Holyoak and John Owen Hughes. (1)

Sources:

1. dbpedia.or

See:

1. Union Insurance Society of Canton Wikipedia
2. A brief historical record of the Union Insurance Society of Canton, State Library of Victoria, January 1952

This article was first posted on 11th November 2021.

Related Indhhk articles:

1. S. H. Dodwell, Managing Director of Dodwell and Company Ltd
2. Gibb, Livingston & Company Ltd, established in HK 1841, shipping lines and insurance