<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the financial statements contained in the Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1997 for Markel Corporation and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,025,063 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 256,520 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 1,389,101 <CASH> 886 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 15,652 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 37,427 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,843,694 <POLICY-LOSSES> 963,985 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 196,218 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 93,153 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 24,606 <OTHER-SE> 317,418 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,843,694 <PREMIUMS> 250,453 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 50,944 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 8,117 <OTHER-INCOME> 1,271 <BENEFITS> 161,469 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 60,675 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 26,265 <INCOME-PRETAX> 45,393 <INCOME-TAX> 10,893 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 34,500 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 34,500 <EPS-PRIMARY> 6.10 <EPS-DILUTED> 6.09 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0