Sir Samuel BignoldDL (13 October 1791[1] – 2 January 1875)[2] was a British businessman with insurances and Conservative politician.
Background
Born in Norwich, he was the third and youngest son of Thomas Bignold[3] and his wife Sarah, widow of Julius Long and daughter of Samuel Cocksedge.[4] He was educated at schools in Norwich and Bury St Edmunds.[4]
Career
From 1814, he worked as secretary for the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Company[5] and from 1818 had the same office for the Norwich Union Life Assurance Society,[6] both founded by his father.[4] Although an admirer of Benjamin Disraeli, he rejected the latter's rather dubious request of a loan by the Society; however, after a meeting lent the money from personal funds.[4] In 1866, he arranged the incorporation of the Amicable Society, Britain's oldest life insurance institution.[4]
In 1815, he married Elizabeth, the only child of William Atkins[9] and had by her six sons and seven daughters.[4][10] He died in 1875 at Bignold House, which he had bought in 1820 and then had become his head office, and was buried at St Margaret, Old Catton.[4] He left property worth about £120,000 (probate granted 15 February 1875).[11]
Bignold's fourth son, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Bignold (1831–1895) served as Mayor of Norwich between 1894 and 1895, Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk, and leader of the Conservative Party in that city after 1875.[12]
References
^Norfolk, England, Church of England Baptism, Marriages, and Burials, 1535-1812