He was the founder of Norwich Union, now known as Aviva plc, one of the United Kingdom's largest insurance businesses.
Born in Westerham, Kent, Thomas Bignold worked as an exciseman before moving to Norwich in the early 1780s.
[1] He appointed 500 local agents who helped him to expand the geographic coverage of the business; growth was also driven by his practice of offering profit sharing to fire insurance policy holders.
[1] In retirement,[4] "Bignold's situation had deteriorated and his eccentricity may have crossed the border with insanity.
[1] His youngest son, Samuel, was his successor and later a Member of Parliament.