<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