New York Life turns 173 years strong.

Happy 173rd anniversary to New York Life

On April 12, 1845, 20 people conducted a meeting to forge the vision of the company that would be soon named New York Life. 173 years of growth later New York Life stands as the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States* and one of the largest life insurers in the world. Here’s to another 173 years at the top.

In 1845, the same year we opened our doors for business...

• The US Congress established a uniform date for federal elections—the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
• Florida and Texas were admitted as the 27th and 28th US states, respectively.
• Former US President Andrew Jackson and American pioneer Johnny Appleseed both died.
• A great fire destroyed much of Pittsburgh.
• The New York Herald was the first newspaper to mention the game of baseball.
• Anesthesia was first used for childbirth, by Dr. Crawford Long in Jefferson, Georgia.
• In Annapolis, Maryland, the Naval School (later renamed the United States Naval Academy) opened with 50 midshipmen and seven professors.