<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ALLEGHANY
CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT MARCH 31, 1999 AND
THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR THE 3 MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,284,681
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     796,643
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               2,081,324
<CASH>                                          46,441
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             644,646
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,265,599
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              1,667,382
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            340,879
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                455,829
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,224,198
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,265,599
<PREMIUMS>                                     144,237
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             43,203
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 363
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  48,886
<BENEFITS>                                     100,158
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 23,869
<INCOME-TAX>                                     7,915
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             15,954
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,954
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.17
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.13
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0