<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A)
ALLEGHANY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT SEPTEMBER
30, 1999 AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR THE NINE MONTHS THEN
ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH (B) FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,462,083
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     534,730
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               1,996,813
<CASH>                                          27,024
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             734,922
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,468,814
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              1,844,571
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            469,587
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                416,924
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,149,745
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,468,814
<PREMIUMS>                                     516,116
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             89,680
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              83,082
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 333,742
<BENEFITS>                                     379,066
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                153,562
<INCOME-TAX>                                    60,052
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             93,510
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    93,510
<EPS-BASIC>                                      12.74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    12.54
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0