In
the 1690s Edward Lloyd kept a Coffee House in Tower Street. He attracted
merchants and shipowners to his premises by posting up the latest
shipping information. He began publishing Lloyd's News in 1696,
therefore establishing London's first daily newspaper.
In 1771 a group of Lloyd's customers formed their own association
of underwriters and took rooms at the Royal
Exchange. Lloyd's remained at the building for the next 150 years.
After a fire in 1838 Lloyd's moved to South Sea House. In 1871 Lloyd's
was incorporated by Parliament for the "promotion of marine insurance
and the diffusion of shipping intelligence".
Rudolf
Ackermann, Lloyd's, from Microcosm of London (1808)
(1)
William Pyne, The
Microcosm of London (1808)
The
subscription room, which is represented in the plate was opened in
1802. These rooms are for the use of merchants, underwriters, brokers,
etc. There are besides two coffee rooms, there are rooms where ships
are sold by auction.
Available
from Amazon Books (order below)
