Cornelius Walford

“ His project of ‘Consols Insurance’ engaged much attention, and has been adopted in a modified form by the British Imperial Office. In 1869 Baylis invented the ‘Positive Life Assurance,’ an ingenious form of life policy, which was adopted in 1870 by the ‘Positive Government Security Life Assurance Company, Limited,’ wherein lives exposed to tropical climates were insured at something nearly approaching ordinary rates. ”

“ At the time of the threatened Bonaparte invasion of England he raised a rifle corps, urged that the people should be armed as sharpshooters, and is said to have trained his men so perfectly in rifle practice, that on one occasion he held the target in Hyde Park, while his entire corps fired at it from a distance of one hundred and fifty yards. In 1807 he founded the County Fire and the Provident Life offices, still carrying on business in Regent Street, in offices designed by himself. ”

“ He gave evidence before the select parliamentary committee on friendly societies in 1849, and before some of the later committees. Many years since he was instructed by the then Bishop of London (Dr. Blomfield) to make some calculations of this class, and he named as his fee 100 guineas. 'A hundred guineas, Mr. Ansell! Why, there are many curates in my diocese who don't get more than that for a year's services.' 'That may be,' was the quiet rejoinder; 'but actuaries are bishops.' The fee was paid. ”

“ Afterwards he studied for the legal profession, and in 1860 entered his father's firm at Westminster, in which he remained until his death. From an early period he evinced a great love of literature, and at sixteen was writing articles for a local newspaper. He also, at a very early age, exhibited strong political tendencies on the conservative side, and wrote statistical papers in matured life in the same cause, which were valued by both parties. In 1873 Baxter declined an invitation to stand for Westminster, with Mr. ”