<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
June 30, 1999 for Markel Corporation and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,343,159
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     309,066
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               1,733,667
<CASH>                                           1,248
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              40,113
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          50,742
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,585,021
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              1,388,010
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            290,205
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                198,245
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0<F1>
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        25,572
<OTHER-SE>                                     388,346
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,585,021
<PREMIUMS>                                     216,736
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             44,310
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               9,043
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     935
<BENEFITS>                                     138,303
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     40,520
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            41,791
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 34,972
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,393
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             26,579
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    26,579
<EPS-BASIC>                                     4.77<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.72<F2>
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0<F3>
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0<F3>
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0<F3>
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0<F3>
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0<F3>
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0<F3>
<FN>
<F1>Does not included Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Capital
Securities of Subsidiary Trust Holding Solely Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures of Markel Corporation.
<F2>Markel adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128 "Earnings
Per Share" effective December 31, 1997. The Financial Data Schedules tags EPS
PRIMARY and EPS DILUTED refer to Basic EPS and Diluted EPS, respectively, as
these terms are set forth in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
128.
<F3>Available on an annual basis only.
</FN>