拍品專文
John Coope, Senior, was one of the twelve founding members of the Phoenix Assurance Company when it was established in 1782. He worked there for 24 years and his family maintained the link for four generations, the final association being his great grand son-in-law, the Hon. Edwin Ponsonby. Along with George Griffin Stonestreet, Coope was responsible for the early expansion of the Phoenix. Together they instigated the acquisition of both the Manchester Fire Office in 1788 and the Liverpool Fire Office in 1795.