<ARTICLE>7 <LEGEND> THIS FINANCIAL SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ORION CAPITAL CORPORATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-1-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,349,858 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 260,609 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 272,718 <EQUITIES> 510,872 <MORTGAGE> 2,222 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 2,486,241 <CASH> 18,031 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 671,726 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 155,612 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,164,466 <POLICY-LOSSES> 2,017,682 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 564,053 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 17,899 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 217,369 <COMMON> 180,285 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 547,050 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,164,466 <PREMIUMS> 1,503,035 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 143,242 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 52,491 <OTHER-INCOME> 17,961 <BENEFITS> 1,020,495 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 417,917 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 72,739 <INCOME-PRETAX> 156,710 <INCOME-TAX> 41,138 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 102,830 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 102,830 <EPS-PRIMARY> 3.78 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.69 <RESERVE-OPEN> 1,390,727 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 986,575 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 33,925 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 450,297 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 559,364 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 1,418,409 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 33,925