Robert Ralph Scrymgeour Hiscox (born 4 January 1943) is a British businessman, art collector, and philanthropist. He was chairman of

Hiscox Hiscox Ltd. is an Anglo-Bermudan insurance provider, listed on the London Stock Exchange. An underwriter at Lloyd's of London, the company largely specialises in niche areas of the market, offering property and casualty insurance aimed at com ...

Ltd, a firm of

Lloyd's of London Lloyd's of London, generally known simply as Lloyd's, is a insurance and reinsurance market located in London, England. Unlike most of its competitors in the industry, it is not an insurance company; rather, Lloyd's is a corporate body gover ...

underwriters, for 43 years until his retirement in 2013.

Career

Hiscox is the son of Ralph Hiscox, who was a founding partner in Roberts & Hiscox in 1946. He was educated at

Rugby School Rugby School is a Public school (United Kingdom), private boarding school for pupils aged 13–18, located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire in England. Founded in 1567 as a free grammar school for local boys, it is one of the oldest independ ...

, followed by

Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Corpus Christi College (full name: "The College of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary", often shortened to "Corpus") is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. From the late 14th c ...

, where he earned a degree in economics and law. He joined Hiscox Ltd in 1965 as an underwriter of fine art and personal accident insurance. After his father died in 1970, he took control of the partnership as Anthony Roberts, the other co-founder, moved aside. Roberts & Hiscox gradually incorporated, starting in 1993 by becoming Hiscox plc. It grew from a Lloyd's underwriter to the international insurance company, Hiscox Ltd, headquartered in Bermuda. He was the company's chairman for 43 years until his retirement in 2013, then honorary president until 2017. Hiscox was deputy chairman of Lloyd's from 1993 to 1995, and helped save it from the brink of collapse.

Philanthropy

Hiscox is chairman of the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust, a charity which works in partnership with

Wiltshire Police Wiltshire Police, formerly known as Wiltshire Constabulary, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Wiltshire (including the Borough of Swindon) in South West England. The force serves 722,000 people over an area ...

to provide home security advice for elderly, vulnerable and disadvantaged people throughout Wiltshire. He has hosted the Wiltshire Steam and Vintage Rally annually in June for a number of years, at Rainscombe Park, Oare, Wiltshire. In 2014, he saved the White Horse Bookshop on

Marlborough Marlborough or the Marlborough may refer to: Places Australia * Marlborough, Queensland * Principality of Marlborough, a short-lived micronation in 1993 * Marlborough Highway, Tasmania; Malborough was an historic name for the place at the sou ...

High Street from closure. He was

High Sheriff of Wiltshire This is a list of the sheriffs and (after 1 April 1974) high sheriffs of Wiltshire. Until the 14th century, the shrievalty was held ''ex officio'' by the castellans of Old Sarum Castle. On 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Go ...

in 2011–2012 and a Deputy Lieutenant of Wiltshire until 2018.Deputy Lieutenant Commissions: Lieutenancy of Wiltshire
''The London Gazette''. 4 February 2013.

Personal life

Hiscox was married first to Lucy Mills, and secondly to Lady Julia Meade (third daughter of the 6th Earl of Clanwilliam). He has five sons, and lives in Wiltshire.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hiscox, Robert 1943 births Living people British businesspeople in insurance British art collectors British Eurosceptics Insurance underwriters People educated at Rugby School Alumni of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Deputy lieutenants of Wiltshire High sheriffs of Wiltshire