Exhibit 23

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



To the Board of Directors of Unitrin, Inc.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement of
Unitrin, Inc. on Form S-8 to be filed on or about this date relating to the
Unitrin 401K Savings Plan of:

1.   Our reports dated January 8, 1999 relating to the consolidated balance
     sheets of Unitrin, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1997
     and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows and
     shareholders' equity and comprehensive income and the related financial
     statement schedules for each of the years in the three-year period ended
     December 31, 1998, which reports appear or are incorporated by reference in
     the Annual Report of Unitrin, Inc. on Form 10-K for the year ended December
     31, 1998.

2.   Our report dated June 28, 1999 relating to the statements of net assets
     available for plan benefits of the Unitrin 401K Savings Plan as of December
     31, 1998 and 1997 and the related statement of changes in net assets
     available for plan benefits for the year ended December 31, 1998, which
     report appears in the December 31, 1998 Annual Report on Form 11-K of the
     Plan.


Chicago, Illinois
September 10, 1999
/s/ KPMG LLP