<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>7
<LEGEND>

THIS FINANCIAL  SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM
ORION  CAPITAL  CORPORATION'S  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  FOR THE NINE MONTHS  ENDED
SEPTEMBER  30,  1999,  AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000

<S>                                                               <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                          9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JAN-1-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                        SEP-30-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                                      1,391
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                                       250
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                                         254
<EQUITIES>                                                                  350
<MORTGAGE>                                                                    1
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                                 0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                                            2,265
<CASH>                                                                        3
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                                          823
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                                      138
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                            4,150
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                                           2,116
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                                         602
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                                0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                                        14
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                             210
<COMMON>                                                                    176
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<OTHER-SE>                                                                  426
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                              4,150
<PREMIUMS>                                                                  984
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                         104
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                                            2
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                                3
<BENEFITS>                                                                  849
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                                 267
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                                         47
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                             (64)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                (32)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                         (42)
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                    (5)
<NET-INCOME>                                                                (47)
<EPS-BASIC>                                                             (1.72)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             (1.72)
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                                            1,418
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                                         700
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                                           148
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                                          351
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                                            523
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                                           1,357
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                                     148









</TABLE>