1 EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the inclusion and incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated March 30, 2000 relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedules, which appear in HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. We also consent to the references to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Houston, Texas September 22, 2000