Skip to main content

Lincoln National Corporation

Life InsuranceFounded 1905
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Founders

Who Founded Lincoln National?

Arthur F. Hall, Perry A. Randall · Founded 1905 · HQ today: Radnor, Pennsylvania, United States

Who founded Lincoln National?

Lincoln National was founded by Arthur F. Hall, Perry A. Randall in 1905. It is now led by Ellen G. Cooper.

Founders
Arthur F. Hall, Perry A. Randall
Founded
1905
Headquarters
Radnor, Pennsylvania, United States
Number of founders
2
Current CEO
Ellen G. Cooper (since 2022)
Where was Lincoln National founded?
Lincoln National was founded in Radnor, Pennsylvania in 1905.
When was Lincoln National founded?
Lincoln National was founded in 1905.
Who started Lincoln National?
Lincoln National was founded by Arthur F. Hall and Perry A. Randall.
How old is Lincoln National?
Lincoln National is 121 years old as of 2026.

Founding Story

Lincoln National Life Insurance Company was organized in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1905, shortly after New York's Armstrong investigation exposed abuses at large life insurers. The founders, led by Arthur F. Hall, wanted a name that signaled honesty and asked Robert Todd Lincoln for permission to use his father's name and portrait. He agreed, and the Lincoln image became the company's brand.

Arthur F. Hall

Co-founder 1905

Background

Hall worked in the insurance business before organizing Lincoln National with Fort Wayne investors.

Role at Lincoln National Corporation

Arthur F. Hall was the principal organizer of Lincoln National Life Insurance Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1905 and led it for decades. He secured Robert Todd Lincoln's permission to use his father's name and image and helped found the company's Lincoln library and museum in 1928. Arthur F. Hall was born in 1872.

Perry A. Randall

Co-founder 1905

Background

Prominent lawyer and businessman in Indiana.

Role at Lincoln National Corporation

Perry A. Randall organized the founding of the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company in 1905 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He famously spearheaded the initiative to write directly to Robert Todd Lincoln (Abraham Lincoln's son) to secure the absolute exclusive permission to use the former President's name and likeness, securing an incredible brand advantage for the new insurer. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).

Lincoln National Corporation: CEO & Leadership History

Full timeline →

Christopher Neczypor

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

2023 – Present

As CFO, he steered the company through a brutal financial crisis in 2022 when the company was forced to take a massive $2.6 billion charge due to incredibly flawed assumptions in its life insurance reserves.

Ellen G. Cooper

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

2022 – Present

Under Cooper, Lincoln shifted sales toward less capital-intensive annuity, life, and workplace products and returned to steady adjusted operating income growth, reporting eight straight quarters of year-over-year growth through Q2 2026.

Dennis R. Glass

President and Chief Executive Officer

2007 – 2022

Serving as CEO from 2007 to 2022, he guided the massive insurer through the 2008 financial crisis (securing highly controversial TARP funds) and aggressively expanded its highly lucrative annuity business.

Jon A. Boscia

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

1998 – 2007

He led the 2006 merger with Jefferson-Pilot. Dennis Glass succeeded him in 2007.

Keep researching Lincoln National

Who Founded Lincoln National? FAQ

Who founded Lincoln National?

Lincoln National Life Insurance Company was organized in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1905 by Arthur F. Hall, Perry A. Randall, and a group of local businessmen.

How did the founders get to use Lincoln's name?

Hall wrote to Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's son, who agreed to the use of his father's name and supplied a portrait used as the company emblem.

What was the Lincoln Library and Museum?

Lincoln National opened a Lincoln library and museum in Fort Wayne in 1928. Its collection was later transferred to Indiana institutions, including the Allen County Public Library and Indiana State Museum.

Related Founder Profiles

Compare founding stories, origins, and entrepreneurial journeys

Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.