<TABLE> <S> <C>
                              
<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
                                                                   
EXHIBIT 27

THIS FINANCIAL SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM ORION CAPITAL CORPORATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE MONTHS
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                          <C>                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                YEAR 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                       DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                           JAN-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                            SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                     1,424,615
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                      318,614
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                        327,661
<EQUITIES>                                                 432,765
<MORTGAGE>                                                   2,000
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                    0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                           2,617,531
<CASH>                                                       2,529
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                         441,898
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                     145,377
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           3,761,172
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                          1,805,057
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                        508,910
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                   0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                       21,286 
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                            310,395
<COMMON>                                                   174,342
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<OTHER-SE>                                                 510,362
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                             3,761,172
<PREMIUMS>                                               1,006,639
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                        122,291
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                          29,299
<OTHER-INCOME>                                              15,133
<BENEFITS>                                                 673,781
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                287,565
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                        43,928
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                            120,752
<INCOME-TAX>                                                30,519
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                         79,385  
<DISCONTINUED>                                                   0  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                  0  


<CHANGES>                                                        0  
<NET-INCOME>                                                79,385    
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                 2.85 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                 2.85 
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                           1,368,420 
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                        667,098 
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                            6,683 
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                         277,151    
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                           381,249   
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                          1,383,801   
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                      6,683   
        


</TABLE>