POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned  hereby appoints  Gregory B. Nevers or Richard W. Whitt
(each with full power to act alone),  as his true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact,
and grants unto said  attorneys  the  authority in his name and on his behalf to
prepare,  execute and file  (individually  and in the capacity stated below) any
and all documents  relating to a registration  statement on Form S-4 to be filed
by Markel  Corporation  (the "Company") and Markel Capital Trust I (the "Trust")
and any and all  amendments or  supplements  to any of the  foregoing,  with all
exhibits  and  documents  required  to be filed  in  connection  therewith.  The
undersigned further grants unto said attorneys, and each of them, full power and
authority to perform each and every act  necessary  in order to  accomplish  the
foregoing registration as fully as he himself might do.

         This power of attorney has been signed as of February 3, 1997.

/s/ ALAN I. KIRSHNER
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Alan I. Kirshner, Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ LESLIE A. GRANDIS
- ----------------------------------------------
Leslie A. Grandis, Director

/s/ STEWART M. KASEN
- ----------------------------------------------
Stewart M. Kasen, Director

/s/ ANTHONY F. MARKEL
- ----------------------------------------------
Anthony F. Markel, Director, President
Administrative Trustee

/s/ GARY L. MARKEL
- ----------------------------------------------
Gary L. Markel, Director

/s/ STEVEN A. MARKEL
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Steven A. Markel, Director, Vice Chairman
Administrative Trustee

/s/ DARRELL D. MARTIN
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Darrell D. Martin, Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
Administrative Trustee

/s/ V. PREM WATSA
- ----------------------------------------------
V. Prem Watsa, Director