<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
31, 1998 FOR TRENWICK GROUP, INC.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           893,020
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      49,188
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 942,208
<CASH>                                          63,003
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             140,173<F1>
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          35,261
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,392,261
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                682,428
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            152,051
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 75,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          110,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,105
<OTHER-SE>                                     346,924
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,392,261
<PREMIUMS>                                     245,561
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             56,316
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               9,016
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     421
<BENEFITS>                                     153,135
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     74,197
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            23,828
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 43,037
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,245
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    34,792
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.99<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.95
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 460,650<F3>
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            166,198<F4>
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                             (12,556)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                            (42,883)
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                             (122,145)
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                449,264<F5>
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                          7,685<F6>
<FN>
<F1>REPRESENTS NET REINSURANCE RECOVERABLE BALANCES AFTER OFFSET OF FUNDS HELD AND
REINSURANCE BALANCES PAYABLE.
<F2>REPRESENTS BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE.
<F3>REFLECTS NET RESERVE AT BEGINNING OF YEAR FOR UNPAID CLAIMS.  ALSO REFLECTS
TRENWICK INTERNATIONAL'S NET RESERVE IN THE AMOUNT OF $81,299 AT DATE OF
ACQUISITION.
<F4>INCLUDES EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE IN THE AMOUNT OF $507.
<F5>REFLECTS NET RESERVE AT END OF YEAR FOR UNPAID CLAIMS.
<F6>REFLECTS GROSS REDUNDANCY IN RESTATED RESERVES.
</FN>