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                             THE CHUBB CORPORATION
 
                                   EXHIBIT 21
 
                         SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT
 
     Significant subsidiaries at December 31, 1997 of The Chubb Corporation, a
New Jersey Corporation, and their subsidiaries (indented), together with the
percentages of ownership, are set forth below.
 


                                                                                 PERCENTAGE
                                                                 PLACE OF       OF SECURITIES
                                                               INCORPORATION        OWNED
                          COMPANY                              -------------    -------------
                                                                          
Federal Insurance Company...................................   Indiana               100%
     Vigilant Insurance Company.............................   New York              100
          Chubb Insurance Company of Australia Limited......   Australia             100
     Pacific Indemnity Company..............................   Wisconsin             100
          Northwestern Pacific Indemnity Company............   Oregon                100
          Texas Pacific Indemnity Company...................   Texas                 100
     Great Northern Insurance Company.......................   Minnesota             100
     Chubb Insurance Company of New Jersey..................   New Jersey            100
     Chubb Custom Insurance Company.........................   Delaware              100
     Chubb National Insurance Company.......................   Indiana               100
     Chubb Indemnity Insurance Company......................   New York              100
     CC Canada Holdings Ltd.................................   Canada                100
          Chubb Insurance Company of Canada.................   Canada                100
     Chubb Insurance Company of Europe, S.A.................   Belgium               100
Chubb Atlantic Indemnity Ltd. ..............................   Bermuda               100
     DHC Corporation........................................   Delaware              100
          Chubb do Brasil Companhia de Seguros..............   Brazil                 99
Bellemead Development Corporation...........................   Delaware              100
Chubb & Son Inc.............................................   New York              100
Chubb Capital Corporation...................................   New Jersey            100

 
- ---------------
 
     Certain other subsidiaries of the Corporation and its consolidated
subsidiaries have been omitted since, in the aggregate, they would not
constitute a significant subsidiary.
 
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