1920s - 1930s:
Holborn was chartered by the State of New York as an insurance brokerage firm. Jack Gilbert, who started his career as a broker with Lloyd's of London, joined the firm and soon narrowed its focus exclusively to reinsurance broking.

After the collapse of the Mexican insurance market, Holborn quickly helped to establish a number of new companies in that market, thereby developing reinsurance capacity which had not previously existed.

With no effective means of communication with the London market during World War II, Jack Gilbert traveled to England by military transport in order to collect on claims for marine war-risk losses.

1940s - 1980s:
John Gilbert joined Holborn in 1962 and became the firm’s second President in 1973.

Holborn hired its first actuary in 1987, thereby leading the trend among the reinsurance brokerage firms to maintain such resources internally.

The first reinsurance treaty underwritten by CNA was placed by Holborn.

Holborn created one of the industry's first property catastrophe models.

1990s  - present:
Continuing to pursue new alternatives for clients, Holborn pioneered opportunities in the Bermuda market, placing the first reinsurance contracts written by Mid-Ocean (now XL Re, Ltd.) and Renaissance Re. Today, Holborn is a major source of business for all the Bermuda markets.

Through the adoption of an ESOP structure, Holborn's ownership was transferred to its employees, providing each Holborn professional with a direct stake in the firm's success - and that of its clients.

Frank Harrison named President in 2004, the 3rd in Holborn’s history.

Holborn opened its Minneapolis and Kansas City branch offices.

With the launch of its Eye in the Sky ^sm technology, Holborn began providing clients with catastrophe analysis, modeling and management tools.

Holborn celebrates more than 93 years of serving its clients.

In 2012, John Gilbert retires from Holborn while continuing to serve as Director.