<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                             2,074
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                            1,740
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                              1,750
<EQUITIES>                                         133
<MORTGAGE>                                          10
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                   4,249
<CASH>                                              26
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                  23
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                             107
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   6,541
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                  3,741
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                392
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                               70
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    157
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               16
<PREFERRED>                                         55
<COMMON>                                            95
<OTHER-SE>                                       1,647
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     6,541
<PREMIUMS>                                         320
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                 65
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                   5
<OTHER-INCOME>                                      39
<BENEFITS>                                         182
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                         43
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                               128
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     77
<INCOME-TAX>                                        24
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 53
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     (3)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                        50
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .54
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .52
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0