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                                                                    EXHIBIT 25.3
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549
                            -------------------------

                                    FORM T-1

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                    UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF
                   A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
                   -------------------------------------------
               CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF
                A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________
                    ----------------------------------------

                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
               (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

NEW YORK                                                     13-4994650
(State of incorporation                                (I.R.S. employer
if not a national bank)                             identification No.)

270 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                                10017
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)

                               William H. McDavid
                                 General Counsel
                                 270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                               Tel: (212) 270-2611
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                -------------------------------------------------
                          EXECUTIVE RISK CAPITAL TRUST
               (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE                                                     06-6442501
(State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                      identification No.)

EXECUTIVE RISK INC.
82 HOPMEADOW STREET
SIMSBURY, CONNECTICUT                                             06070
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)


                               EXECUTIVE RISK INC.
                     SERIES B GUARANTEE WITH RESPECT TO THE
           SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES OF EXECUTIVE RISK CAPITAL TRUST
                       (Title of the indenture securities)
                -------------------------------------------------
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GENERAL

Item 1. General Information.

      Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

      (a)   Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which
            it is subject.

            New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York
            12110.

            Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.,
            20551

            Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street,
            New York, N.Y.

            Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.


      (b)   Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

            Yes.


Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor.

      If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such
affiliation.

      None.


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Item 16. List of Exhibits

      List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

      1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee as now in effect,
including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of Amendment dated
February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September 9, 1982,
February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1
filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

      2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence
Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration
Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in
connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank
(National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed
The Chase Manhattan Bank).

      3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained
in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

      4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form
T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

      5. Not applicable.

      6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see
Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No.
33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in connection
with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed The Chase
Manhattan Bank).

      7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published
pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

      8. Not applicable.

      9. Not applicable.

                                    SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the
Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in
the City of New York and State of New York, on the 8th day of April, 1997.

                                    THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK


                                    By /s/ Kathleen Perry
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Kathleen Perry
                                       Second Vice President


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                              Exhibit 7 to Form T-1


                                Bank Call Notice

                             RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
                       CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

                            The Chase Manhattan Bank
                  of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
                     and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
                     a member of the Federal Reserve System,

                 at the close of business December 31, 1996, in
         accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
        District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.




                                                                     DOLLAR AMOUNTS
                     ASSETS                                            IN MILLIONS
                                                                       
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
      Noninterest-bearing balances and
      currency and coin ....................................            $ 11,509
      Interest-bearing balances ............................               8,457
Securities:
Held to maturity securities ................................               3,128
Available for sale securities ..............................              40,534
Federal Funds sold and securities purchased under
      agreements to resell in domestic offices of the
      bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries,
      and in IBF's:
      Federal funds sold ...................................               9,222
      Securities purchased under agreements to resell ......                 422
Loans and lease financing receivables:
      Loans and leases, net of unearned income .............            $133,935
      Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses ............               2,789
      Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve ................                  16
                                                                        --------
      Loans and leases, net of unearned income,
      allowance, and reserve ...............................             131,130
Trading Assets .............................................              49,876
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized
      leases) ..............................................               2,877
Other real estate owned ....................................                 290
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
      associated companies .................................                 124
Customer's liability to this bank on acceptances
      outstanding ..........................................               2,313
Intangible assets ..........................................               1,316
Other assets ...............................................              11,231
                                                                        --------
TOTAL ASSETS ...............................................            $272,429
                                                                        ========



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                                   LIABILITIES

Deposits
      In domestic offices ..................................          $  87,006
      Noninterest-bearing ..................................          $  35,783
      Interest-bearing .....................................             51,223
                                                                      ---------
      In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries,
      and IBF's ............................................             73,206
      Noninterest-bearing ..................................          $   4,347
      Interest-bearing .....................................             68,859

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements
      to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of      
      its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's
      Federal funds purchased ..............................             14,980
      Securities sold under agreements to repurchase .......             10,125
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury ...................              1,867
Trading liabilities ........................................             34,783
Other Borrowed money:
      With a remaining maturity of one year or less ........             14,639
      With a remaining maturity of more than one year ......                425
Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized
      leases ...............................................                 40
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding ...              2,267
Subordinated notes and debentures ..........................              5,471
Other liabilities ..........................................             11,343

TOTAL LIABILITIES ..........................................            256,152
                                                                      ---------
Limited-Life Preferred stock and related surplus ...........                550

                                 EQUITY CAPITAL

Common stock ...............................................              1,251
Surplus ....................................................             10,243
Undivided profits and capital reserves .....................              4,526
Net unrealized holding gains (Losses)
on available-for-sale securities ...........................               (309)
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ........                 16

TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL .......................................             15,727
                                                                      ---------
TOTAL LIABILITIES, LIMITED-LIFE PREFERRED
      STOCK AND EQUITY CAPITAL .............................          $ 272,429
                                                                      =========


I, Joseph L. Sclafani, S.V.P. & Controller of the above-named
bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has
been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued
by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true
to the best of my knowledge and belief.

                               JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness
of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been
examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and
belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions
issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is 
true and correct.

                               WALTER V. SHIPLEY       )
                               EDWARD D. MILLER        )  DIRECTORS
                               THOMAS G. LABRECQUE     )


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