The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc.
Company History
The Hartford Insurance Group History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1810 in Hartford, Connecticut
When was The Hartford Insurance Group founded?
The Hartford Insurance Group was founded in 1810 in Hartford, Connecticut by Nathaniel Terry, making it 216 years old.
- Founded
- 1810
- Founding place
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Founders
- Nathaniel Terry
- Headquarters today
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Milestones documented
- 12 (1810–2025)
- Current CEO
- Christopher J. Swift
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1810 | The Connecticut Launch |
| 1835 | The New York Payout |
| 1970 | Acquired by ITT |
| 1995 | Spun Off From ITT |
| 1997 | Ramani Ayer becomes CEO |
| 2008 | The Financial Crisis |
| 2009 | Liam McGee becomes CEO |
| 2012 | The Life Insurance Exit |
| 2017 | Acquisition of Aetna's U.S. Group Life and Disability Business |
| 2019 | The Navigators Buyout |
| 2025 | Rename and Brand Refresh |
| 2025 | Record Annual Earnings |
- Where was The Hartford Insurance Group founded?
- The Hartford Insurance Group was founded in Hartford, Connecticut in 1810.
- Who founded The Hartford Insurance Group?
- The Hartford Insurance Group was founded by Nathaniel Terry.
- When did The Hartford Insurance Group start?
- The Hartford Insurance Group was founded in 1810.
- How old is The Hartford Insurance Group?
- The Hartford Insurance Group is 216 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
The Hartford Fire Insurance Company was chartered in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1810, with Nathaniel Terry as its first president. Its reputation was made in December 1835, when the Great Fire of New York ruined many insurers; company president Eliphalet Terry pledged to pay claims in full, and the episode became central to the brand's story of paying when catastrophe strikes.
Founders
Nathaniel Terry
Nathaniel Terry was a Hartford, Connecticut lawyer, merchant and politician who served as the first president of the Hartford Fire Insurance Company after its 1810 charter. He later served as a U.S. Congressman from Connecticut. The company he helped launch became the predecessor of today's The Hartford Insurance Group. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Key Milestones
The Connecticut Launch
Wealthy merchants launch the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, establishing an influential risk protection syndicate in early America.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThe New York Payout
Following a catastrophic fire, the president guarantees all claims with his personal wealth, establishing the foundation of the company's trusted brand.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSpun Off From ITT
ITT spun off ITT Hartford as an independent listed company in December 1995.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRamani Ayer becomes CEO
Ramani Ayer became CEO of The Hartford Insurance Group in 1997. Ayer's tenure represents both the zenith and the near-destruction of the historic Hartford conglomerate.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThe Financial Crisis
Losses on variable annuity guarantees during the financial crisis pushed The Hartford to raise capital, including $3.4 billion from the U.S. Treasury's TARP program in 2009, which it later repaid.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLiam McGee becomes CEO
Liam McGee became CEO of The Hartford Insurance Group in 2009. Liam McGee saved The Hartford from complete corporate collapse.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThe Life Insurance Exit
The Hartford announced the sale or run-off of its individual annuity, individual life and retirement plans businesses to refocus on P&C, group benefits and funds.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquisition of Aetna's U.S. Group Life and Disability Business
The Hartford agreed to buy Aetna's U.S. group life and disability business for $1.45 billion, scaling its Group Benefits segment.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThe Navigators Buyout
The Hartford completed its roughly $2.1 billion acquisition of The Navigators Group, adding marine, energy, environmental and Lloyd's capabilities.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRename and Brand Refresh
On February 6, 2025, the holding company became The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. and unveiled a modernized stag logo; segments were renamed Business Insurance, Personal Insurance and Employee Benefits.
Source: sec.govRecord Annual Earnings
FY2025 net income reached $3.836 billion on $28.368 billion in revenue, with an 88.3 P&C combined ratio.
Source: ir.thehartford.comMajor Acquisitions
The Navigators Group
2019The Hartford acquired The Navigators Group for approximately $2.1 billion to expand its global specialty insurance capabilities, including marine, energy and environmental liability and its presence in the Lloyd's market.
Aetna's U.S. Group Life and Disability Business
2017The Hartford acquired Aetna's U.S. group life and disability business for $1.45 billion to expand its Group Benefits operations.
Fortis Financial Group U.S. Businesses
2001The Hartford acquired Fortis's U.S. individual life insurance, annuity and mutual fund businesses through reinsurance agreements and the purchase of Fortis Advisors and Fortis Investors.
Keep researching The Hartford Insurance Group
The Hartford Insurance Group Company History FAQ
Was The Hartford ever owned by ITT?
Yes. ITT Corporation acquired The Hartford in 1970, and the company was spun off as an independent, NYSE-listed company in 1995.
What are the major historical eras in the 215+ year journey of The Hartford?
Key eras are the 1810 founding as a fire insurer, the 1835 New York fire claims payout, expansion into casualty lines in the 20th century, ITT ownership from 1970 to 1995, the 2008-2012 crisis and restructuring, and the P&C and benefits focus under Christopher Swift since 2014, including the 2025 rename to The Hartford Insurance Group.
How did The Hartford overcome the 2008 financial crisis and variable annuity losses?
Variable annuity guarantee losses hit The Hartford hard in 2008. It raised capital, including a $2.5 billion investment from Allianz and $3.4 billion from TARP in 2009, repaid TARP, and then exited annuities and individual life to focus on P&C and group benefits.
How did The Hartford start?
The Hartford was founded in 1810 by a group of local merchants in Hartford, Connecticut, with just $15,000 in working capital. They built a legendary reputation for reliability. When the massive Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed the city, The Hartford's president personally traveled to Chicago and paid out every single claim in full, cementing their national dominance.
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