The Origins of Lloyd's of London

In 1692, George Lloyd moved his coffee shop to Lombard Street in London. He started a two-page broad sheet called Lloyd's News that came out twice a week. By the 1730s, Lloyd's wasn't just where you went to get marine news, but marine insurance. The Eliza was underwritten by some motley gang of investors and bankers. It is in this former coffee shop that the fate of you, an over-eager sailor from Cornwall, your fellow mates and the Eliza herself were sealed.