<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the financial statements contained in the Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1995 for Markel Corporation and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1995 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 660,436 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 131,579 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 889,314 <CASH> 12,192 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 16,000 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 33,612 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,311,872 <POLICY-LOSSES> 729,816 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 178,285 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 118,176 <COMMON> 23,039 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 170,938 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,311,872 <PREMIUMS> 209,892 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 30,530 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 7,650 <OTHER-INCOME> 2,561 <BENEFITS> 137,685 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 48,370 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 21,884 <INCOME-PRETAX> 32,959 <INCOME-TAX> 9,083 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 23,876 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 23,876 <EPS-PRIMARY> 4.26 <EPS-DILUTED> 4.23 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0