In 1971 British Insurance (George Clayton) was published. With the sub-title of Monographs on British Economic Institutions this book has been the go-to reference for many students studying both British financial histories as well as the theories that surround early British insurance. George Clayton has been dubbed the “Father of Life Insurance” though the reasoning is a bit unclear, though perhaps not to someone who has studied his work in detail. The British insurance market is certainly a hot topic right now, and it makes perfect sense that both people newly venturing into this field, along with veterans may want to examine the thoughts and ideas of George Clayton.

It took quite a bit of effort to delve into a history as rich as the one owned by British insurance. George Clayton has studied, and outlined in his book, common practices as far back as to the seventeenth century. His influence on the way in which insurance is studied resonates within the papers of many university students who have found tidbits of information vital to their education. The history of insurance – life, health or even insurance on shipped goods – has a long and interesting history and British Insurance does a great job of covering all of the bases.