The Hartford

The Hartford is an industry-leading provider of property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds. 

Throughout the United States of America's rich history of more than 200 years, countless businesses and individuals, including Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln and Babe Ruth, have turned to our company for protection. Hartford celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2010.

1810: The Connecticut General Assembly awarded a charter to the state's first publicly owned insurance firm, The Hartford Fire Insurance Co. Hartford was founded in 1810 in Hartford, Connecticut.

1819: The first sign that the 1819 petition made an impact in the state legislature appeared in a May issue of the Hartford Courant, which noted that legislators formed a committee to consider the petition’s assertions.

1820: In May, nearly a year after the first calls for the formation of a new fire insurance company, Aetna’s board of directors again voted to send a petition to the state legislature, this time seeking a charter amendment to permit the writing of life insurance.

1828: Advertisement for the Aetna Insurance Company, Hartford, is part of the Connecticut Historical Society

1835: After a huge fire destroyed New York's financial district, Hartford's president, Eliphalet Terry, used his personal wealth to cover all of the company's damage claims.

1845: The fortunes of the young company took a drastic turn.

1853: The stockholders of the “Annuity Fund” now constituted a new corporation under the name “the Aetna Life Insurance Company,” with Eliphalet A. Bulkeley as its first President. Thus, the board of directors petitioned the legislature again, this time seeking to amend the charter to separate the life insurance department from the parent company.

1867: Aetna Life Insurance Co. of Hartford, Conn. assets January 1st, by Kellogg & Bulkeley – Connecticut Historical Society Hartford was the first city to build a building for the YWCA.

1902: The first time a president rode in a car was in Hartford by Theodore Roosevelt this year. 

1913: Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co. were founded in August. 

1921: The company moves into buildings on Asylum Avenue that formerly housed the American School for the Deaf.

1934: Chicago Stockyard fire on May 19 causes The Harford $1.1 million in losses.

1939: The first FM radio station was the area's WDRC.

1960: Aetna entered the international arena when it acquired the Canadian company, Excelsior Life Insurance. In the 1960s people started leaving Hartford for its suburbs and Hartford's suburbs have expanded immensly becoming home to world-class shopping malls, prestigious private & parochial schools, major corporations and million-dollar homes.

1968: In June, ITT Hartford moves its life insurance headquarters from Boston to a 22-story tower at 690 Asylum Ave.

1970: Hartford was acquired by ITT Corporation, and the new combined company was renamed ITT-Hartford Group, Inc.

1974: Completes nine-story, $15 million North Plaza Building adjacent to its 22-story tower.

1988: Andrews, Gregory E., and Ransom, David F., "Structures and Styles: Guided Tours of Hartford Architecture," The Connecticut Historical Society and the Connecticut Architecture Foundation.

1989: In January, ITT Hartford cites competitive pressures and losses in its life and group health operations for the layoff of 339 workers in Hartford and Simsbury and 61 others nationwide.

1992: In February, ITT confirms it may consider splitting off its financial services and hotel operations, but insists The Hartford is not for sale.

1993: In September, ITT Hartford says it will sell most of its health insurance business to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Springfield, highlighting an industry trend of consolidation and positioning for national reform.

1997: ITT-Hartford Group, Inc. changed its name to Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

2000: According to Forbes, it is considered one of the top 2000 largest public companies in the world.

2001: The first and one of the largest in a series of revitilization projects in the city broke ground and is known as Adriaens Landing.

2021: The University of Connecticut men’s basketball team lands another guard as Joey Calcaterra transfers from the University of San Diego guard Joey Calcaterra.

“To improve the health and healing of the people and communities we serve.”

“Growing the business. Cultivating a culture of doing the right thing. Our leadership team has a clear vision for our future.”