<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 March 31, 1999 for Markel Corporation and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,371,792 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 285,801 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 1,758,095 <CASH> 658 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 30,635 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 49,016 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,584,879 <POLICY-LOSSES> 1,406,312 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 275,426 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 198,232 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY><F1> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 25,501 <OTHER-SE> 392,092 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,584,879 <PREMIUMS> 108,407 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 22,651 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 7,063 <OTHER-INCOME> 378 <BENEFITS> 70,150 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 14,890 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 26,605 <INCOME-PRETAX> 19,308 <INCOME-TAX> 4,634 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 14,674 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 14,674 <EPS-PRIMARY><F2> 2.64 <EPS-DILUTED><F2> 2.61 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT><F3> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR><F3> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT><F3> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR><F3> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE><F3> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY><F3> 0 <FN> <F1> Does not include Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Capital Securities of Subsidiary Trust Holding Solely Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of Markel Corporation. <F2> Markel adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128 "Earnings Per Share" effective December 31, 1997. The Financial Data Schedules 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. <F3> Available on an annual basis only. </FN>