MetLife is one of the largest providers of insurance, employee benefit programs and annuities in the world, with over 90 million customers in five dozen countries. Founded in 1863, MetLife was originally called the National Union Life and Limb Insurance Company, and it insured Civil War soldiers against disability, including wounds, sickness and accidents. The name changed to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in 1868. By 1909, MetLife was the nation's largest life insurance company and remains so today. The company had its first public offering in 2000 and now does business throughout the US, Latin America, Europe, Japan, Asia and the Middle East.