The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., usually known as The Hartford, is a United States-based investment and insurance company. The Hartford is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. It was ranked at 152nd position in Fortune 500 in the year of 2017. The company’s earnings are divided between property-and-casualtyoperations, group benefits and mutual funds.
The Hartford is the 12th-largest property and casualty company in the United States. They sell products primarily through a network of agents and brokers, and have also been the auto and home insurance writer for AARP members for more than 25 years.
The Hartford was founded in 1810 in Hartford, Connecticut. A group of local merchants gathered in a Hartford inn and, with working capital of $15,000, founded the Hartford Fire Insurance Company. The company survived some of the greatest peacetime tragedies in American history. After a huge fire destroyed New York's financial district in 1835, The Hartford's president, Eliphalet Terry, used his personal wealth to cover all of the company's damage claims. Other catastrophic events included the Chicago fire of 1871 and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.
The company logo shows a male deer, which in full maturity was referred to by the medieval hunting term hart. The etymology of 'Hartford' is the ford where harts cross (deer crossing). The Seal of the City of Hartford[5] likewise features a mature male deer.
Second Century and Forward
The Hartford has continued to help our customers persevere, providing insurance to businesses and well-known people including Babe Ruth and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. We have encouraged businesses to strive to create structures and buildings on a scale the world had never seen by guaranteeing coverage. We insured some of the largest construction projects ever, including the Hoover Dam, the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Golden Gate Bridge.
As the demands of businesses, families and individuals of the United States evolved, so did we. Wanting to help smaller businesses succeed, we became the first insurance provider to offer a dedicated small business service center in 1983. The following year, we became the only insurance company to provide auto and home insurance to members of AARP – an agreement that’s still in place today.
In 2001, our nation was changed forever as we witnessed the September 11th terror attacks. In response, The Hartford paid over $850 million in claims and made major donations to the United Way and other organizations that were impacted by the tragedy.
The Hartford has continued on its path of excellence:
- Becoming a founding partner of the U.S. Paralympics in 2003
- Being named a World’s Most Ethical Company® 10 times1
- Celebrating our 200th Anniversary in 2010