<ARTICLE>                5
<LEGEND>                 This schedule contains summary financial
                         information extracted from the
                         consolidated balance sheet of Thomas &
                         Betts Corporation and subsidiaries as of
                         January 1, 1995, and the related
                         consolidated statement of earnings for the
                         year ended January 1, 1995, and is
                         qualified in its entirety by reference to
                         such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>             1,000
       
                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             JAN-1-1995
<PERIOD-END>                  JAN-1-1995
<CASH>                        69671
<SECURITIES>                  52569
<RECEIVABLES>                 172633
<ALLOWANCES>                  (4556)
<INVENTORY>                   198422
<CURRENT-ASSETS>              533993
<PP&E>                        547099
<DEPRECIATION>                (271574)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                1208212
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>         280344
<BONDS>                       319519
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>         0
<PREFERRED>                   0
<COMMON>                      9822
<OTHER-SE>                    543221
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>  1208212
<SALES>                       1076165
<TOTAL-REVENUES>              1076165
<CGS>                         710864
<TOTAL-COSTS>                 250684
<OTHER-EXPENSES>              90051
<LOSS-PROVISION>              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>            (26852)
<INCOME-PRETAX>               494
<INCOME-TAX>                  (1393)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>           1887
<DISCONTINUED>                65933
<EXTRAORDINARY>               0
<CHANGES>                     0
<NET-INCOME>                  67820
<EPS-PRIMARY>                 3.51
<EPS-DILUTED>                 0