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                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form
10-K) of Executive Risk Inc. of our report dated February 3, 1998, included in
the 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders of Executive Risk Inc.

     Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Executive Risk
Inc. listed in Item 14. This schedule is the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In
our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when considered
in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly
in all material respects the information set forth therein.


/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Stamford, Connecticut
March 25, 1998