<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,
1996 for Trenwick Group Inc.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000 
<CURRENCY> U. S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           713,998
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      25,959
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 739,957
<CASH>                                          14,253
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              47,772<F1>
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          21,805
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 920,804
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                467,177
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             71,448
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                103,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           673
<OTHER-SE>                                     265,080
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   920,804
<PREMIUMS>                                     211,069
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             41,226
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 299
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<BENEFITS>                                     129,316
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     58,757
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            20,693
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 43,828
<INCOME-TAX>                                     9,980
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    33,848
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.95
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.25
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 327,001<F2>
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            133,755
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                              (4,439)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                            (22,570)
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                              (46,860)
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                386,887<F3>
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                          3,669<F4>
<FN>
<F1>Represents net reinsurance recoverable balances after offset of funds held and
reinsurance balances payable.
<F2>Reflects net reserve at beginning of year for unpaid claims
<F3>Reflects net reserve at end of year for unpaid claims
<F4>Reflects gross redundancy in restated reserves
</FN>