<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
financial statements contained in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1998 for Markel Corporation and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                 DEC-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           1,070,978
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                  0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                    0
<EQUITIES>                                       317,887
<MORTGAGE>                                             0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                          0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 1,481,093
<CASH>                                             1,527
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                21,205
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                            40,471
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,921,264
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                  933,830
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                              205,908
<POLICY-OTHER>                                         0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                  0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                   93,219
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY><F1>                              0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                          25,415
<OTHER-SE>                                       399,886
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,921,264
<PREMIUMS>                                       333,267
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                               71,046
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                20,558
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     1,130
<BENEFITS>                                       203,336
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                       81,386
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                              43,455
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   75,385
<INCOME-TAX>                                      18,092
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               57,293
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                      57,293
<EPS-PRIMARY><F2>                                  10.41
<EPS-DILUTED><F2>                                  10.17
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                   744,954
<PROVISION-CURRENT><F3>                          240,732
<PROVISION-PRIOR><F3>                           (37,396)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT><F3>                            51,695
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR><F3>                             161,053
<RESERVE-CLOSE><F3>                              735,542
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY><F3>                     (37,396)
<FN>
<F1> Does not include Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Capital
Securities of Subsidiary Trust Holding Solely Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures of Markel Corporation.
<F2> Markel adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128
"Earnings Per Share" effective December 31, 1997. The Financial Data Schedules
tags <EPS PRIMARY> and <EPS DILUTED> refer to Basic EPS and Diluted EPS,
respectively, as these terms are set forth in Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 128.
<F3> Available on an annual basis only.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>