<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT
SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR THE NINE
MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                             3,457
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     427,794
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 964,355
<CASH>                                           1,062
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             322,466
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,711,662
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                606,616
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            348,182
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                243,995
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,150,916
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,711,662
<PREMIUMS>                                     289,313
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            169,532
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             158,742
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<BENEFITS>                                     276,736
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 54,877
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (22,699)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             77,576
<DISCONTINUED>                                  25,004
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   102,580
<EPS-BASIC>                                      13.93
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    13.80
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0