Sir Samuel Bignold DL (13 October 1791^[1] – 2 January 1875)^[2] was a British businessman with insurances and Conservative politician.

Born in Norwich, he was the third and youngest son of Thomas Bignold^[3] and his wife Sarah, widow of Julius Long and daughter of Samuel Cocksedge.^[4] He was educated at schools in Norwich and Bury St Edmunds.^[4]

From 1814, he worked as secretary for the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Company^[5] and from 1818 had the same office for the Norwich Union Life Assurance Society,^[6] both founded by his father.^[4] Although an admirer of Benjamin Disraeli, he rejected the latter's rather dubious request of a loan by the Society; however, after a meeting lent the money from personal funds.^[4] In 1866, he arranged the incorporation of the Amicable Society, Britain's oldest life insurance institution.^[4]

Bignold was appointed Sheriff of Norwich in 1830^[7] and was mayor of that city in the years 1833, 1848, 1853 and lastly 1872.^[8] He presented a note of support of the Crimean War from the city of Norwich to the Parliament in 1854, for which he was created a Knight Bachelor.^[6] Shortly thereafter, he entered the British House of Commons and sat for Norwich in the following three years.^[2] Bignold served as Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk.^[9]

In 1815, he married Elizabeth, the only child of William Atkins^[9] and had by her six sons and seven daughters.^[4][10] He died in 1875 at Bignold House, which he had bought in 1820 and then had become his head office, and was buried at St Margaret, Old Catton.^[4] He left property worth about £120,000 (probate granted 15 February 1875).^[11]

Bignold's fourth son, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Bignold (1831–1895) served as Mayor of Norwich between 1894 and 1895, Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk, and leader of the Conservative Party in that city after 1875.^[12]