<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>