Exhibit 23.01

Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants


The Board of Directors
CNA Financial Corporation:

We consent to incorporation by reference in Form 8-K/A of CNA Financial
Corporation of our report dated February 16, 1995, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of The Continental Corporation and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 1994 and 1993, and for each of the years in
the three-year period ended December 31, 1994, which report appears in the
Proxy Statement dated March 29, 1995 of The Continental Corporation.

Our report refers to The Continental Corporation and subsidiaries' change in
methods of accounting for multiple-year retrospectively rated reinsurance
contracts and for the adoption of the provisions of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board's Statements of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No.
112, "Employers' Accounting for Postemployment Benefits," No. 113,
"Accounting and Reporting for Reinsurance of Short-Duration and Long-Duration
Contracts," and No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and
Equity Securities," in 1993.  SFAS No. 106, "Employers' Accounting for 
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions," and No. 109, "Accounting 
for Income Taxes," were adopted in 1992.


                                              KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


New York, New York
July 21, 1995