<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 September 30, 1999 for Markel Corporation and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,285,686 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 281,409 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 1,652,486 <CASH> 1,476 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 38,697 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 50,859 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,507,336 <POLICY-LOSSES> 1,376,745 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 288,164 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 158,258 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0<F1> <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 25,593 <OTHER-SE> 360,390 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,507,336 <PREMIUMS> 327,047 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 66,253 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 9,297 <OTHER-INCOME> 1,426 <BENEFITS> 210,747 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 66,560 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 56,903 <INCOME-PRETAX> 46,531 <INCOME-TAX> 11,168 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 35,363 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 35,363 <EPS-BASIC> 6.34<F2> <EPS-DILUTED> 6.27<F2> <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0<F3> <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0<F3> <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0<F3> <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0<F3> <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0<F3> <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0<F3> <FN> <F1>Does not include Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Capital Securities of Subsidiary Trust Holding Solely Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of Market 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>