Arnold Dwight England formed England/Corsair Upholstery Manufacturing Company with his brother and father in 1964. During its first year of business the company lost a net $82.
One of the main reasons for the formation of England/Corsair was to provide employment for the people of Dwight England's hometown of Tazewell in northeast Tennessee. By 1991, England/Corsair had become the top employer in England's home county.
When England/Corsair was established, the England family employed just two people. By 1994, the company had employed 1,500 people and in doing so helped reduce unemployment in northeast Tennessee from 20 percent to 4 percent.
Following its early losses, England/Corsair saw its annual sales reach $110 million in 1995.
In 1994, the furniture manufacturer La-Z-Boy acquired the England/Corsair Manufacturing Company.
Arnold Dwight England has been honored with many awards for his work in the furniture manufacturing industry. These awards include The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association's Humanitarian Award in 1969 and the Outstanding Manufacturer of 1989 award from the Ohio Home Furnishings Association.