Povey was a visionary entrepreneur living in London at the time of the Great Fire. Having witnessed firsthand the devastation and destruction caused by the fire, Povey became convinced that insurance was essential to protect people’s livelihoods by making things better when the worst happened.

Over the next three centuries, his pioneering insurance company grew into the internationally recognised FTSE 100 business known today as RSA.

Around 14,000 people are still making things better for over nine million customers in more than 100 countries.

Key dates

1710

The Sun Fire Office is established

1765

We insure the home of British explorer, Captain James Cook.

1844

We cover Down House, where Charles Darwin wrote “On the Origin of Species”

1959

The Sun Insurance Office merges with The Alliance Assurance Company to form Sun Alliance Insurance Limited

1996

Sun Alliance Group merges with Royal Insurance Holdings to become Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group plc

2001

MORE TH>N launches in the UK

2006

We became the first carbon-neutral UK insurer

2008

We help rebuild port facilities at Galveston in Texas after Hurricane Ike

2008

Royal & Sun Alliance becomes RSA Insurance Group

2009

We take part in the reconstruction of the Italian city of L’Aquila following an earthquake