<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
                             THE CHUBB CORPORATION
                           Financial Data Schedule(*)
(*) This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Balance Sheets and the Consolidated Statements of Income and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                             8,715<F1>
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                            2,444<F2>
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                              2,573<F3>
<EQUITIES>                                         646
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  12,081
<CASH>                                               5
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                  57<F4>
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                             601
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  19,939
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                  9,524<F5>
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                              2,618<F6>
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  1,260<F7>
<COMMON>                                           176
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                       5,287<F8>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    19,939
<PREMIUMS>                                       4,569
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                712
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  80
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     320<F9>
<BENEFITS>                                       3,011
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      1,238
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                               290
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    547
<INCOME-TAX>                                        61
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                486
<DISCONTINUED>                                      27
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       513
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.90
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                   7,614
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                              3,054
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                  (43)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                 980
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                 1,889
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                  7,756
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                            (43)
<FN>
<F1>DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE REPRESENTS FIXED MATURITY INVESTMENTS CLASSIFIED AS
    AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE AND CARRIED AT MARKET VALUE AS PRESCRIBED BY SFAS NO. 
    115.
<F2>DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE REPRESENTS FIXED MATURITY INVESTMENTS CLASSIFIED AS 
    HELD-TO-MATURITY AND CARRIED AT AMORTIZED COST AS PRESCRIBED BY SFAS NO. 
    115.
<F3>DEBT-MARKET-VALUE REPRESENTS THE RELATED MARKET VALUE OF FIXED MATURITIES 
    CLASSIFIED AS HELD-TO-MATURITY.
<F4>RECOVER-REINSURE REPRESENTS REINSURANCE RECOVERABLE ON PAID CLAIMS.
<F5>POLICY-LOSSES EXCLUDE THE REDUCTIONS FOR REINSURANCE RECOVERABLES ON 
    UNPAID CLAIMS ($1,768), AS PRESCRIBED BY SFAS NO. 113. SUCH AMOUNTS ARE 
    INCLUDED IN TOTAL ASSETS.
<F6>UNEARNED-PREMIUMS EXCLUDE THE REDUCTION FOR PREPAID REINSURANCE PREMIUMS
    ($327) AS PRESCRIBED BY SFAS NO. 113. THIS PREPAID AMOUNT IS INCLUDED IN 
    TOTAL ASSETS.
<F7>NOTES-PAYABLE INCLUDES SHORT-TERM DEBT OF $189 AND LONG-TERM DEBT OF
    $1,071.
<F8>OTHER-SE INCLUDES PAID IN SURPLUS; RETAINED EARNINGS; FOREIGN CURRENCY
    TRANSLATION LOSSES, NET OF INCOME TAX; UNREALIZED APPRECIATION OF 
    INVESTMENTS, NET; RECEIVABLE FROM ESOP AND TREASURY STOCK.
<F9>OTHER-INCOME REPRESENTS REVENUES FROM REAL ESTATE OPERATIONS.
</FN>