<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE FORM 10-Q FOR EACH
QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AS SHOWN FOR MARKEL CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                    
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       9-MOS                  6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             DEC-31-1997            DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                  SEP-30-1997            JUN-30-1997             MAR-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>            1,025,063                982,664                 948,881
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                   0                      0                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                     0                      0                       0
<EQUITIES>                        256,520                237,915                 205,173
<MORTGAGE>                              0                      0                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                           0                      0                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                  1,389,101              1,331,525               1,273,937
<CASH>                                886                  1,183                     278
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                 15,652                 13,225                  10,917
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>             37,427                 36,586                  36,768
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  1,843,694              1,792,051               1,732,567
<POLICY-LOSSES>                   963,985                956,045                 937,366
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>               196,218                193,101                 190,764
<POLICY-OTHER>                          0                      0                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                   0                      0                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                    93,153                 93,140                  99,704
<COMMON>                           24,606                 24,531                  24,478
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   0                      0                       0
<PREFERRED>                             0                      0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                        317,418                284,676                 247,066
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    1,843,694              1,792,051               1,732,567
<PREMIUMS>                        250,453                165,803                  81,671
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                50,944                 33,503                  16,706
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                  8,117                   (160)                   (578)
<OTHER-INCOME>                      1,271                  1,027                     674
<BENEFITS>                        161,469                107,156                  52,650
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>        60,675                 40,348                  19,802
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>               26,265                 16,878                   8,512
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    45,393                 24,354                  11,878
<INCOME-TAX>                       10,893                  5,842                   3,088
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                34,500                 18,512                   8,790
<DISCONTINUED>                          0                      0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         0                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                               0                      0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                       34,500                 18,512                   8,790
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        6.29                   3.38                    1.61<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                        6.10                   3.28                    1.56<F1>
<RESERVE-OPEN>                          0                      0                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                     0                      0                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                       0                      0                       0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                      0                      0                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                        0                      0                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                         0                      0                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                 0                      0                       0
        
<FN>
Markel adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128 "Earnings Per
Share" effective December 31, 1997. The Financial Data Schedule tags <EPS
PRIMARY> and <EPS DILUTED> refer to Basic EPS and Diluted EPS, respectively, as
these terms are set forth in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
128.
</FN>