<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
June 30,  1998 for  Markel  Corporation  and is  qualified  in its  entirety  by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,088,839
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     300,252
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               1,450,961
<CASH>                                           1,171
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              23,159
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          39,731
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,901,050
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                947,498
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            200,985
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 93,192
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        25,126
<OTHER-SE>                                     375,782
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,901,050
<PREMIUMS>                                     163,424
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             34,728
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               9,620
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     459
<BENEFITS>                                     103,086
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     39,382
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            18,016
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 36,549
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,772
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             27,777
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,777
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     5.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.92
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0