Exhibit 99.1

Navigators Elects Additional Director

    NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2004--The Navigators Group,
Inc. (NASDAQ:NAVG) announced that H.J. Mervyn Blakeney was elected
today to the Board of Directors of The Navigators Group, Inc.
    Mr. Blakeney currently chairs the Boards of two Lloyd's managing
agencies, including Navigators Underwriting Agency, Ltd. He recently
retired from positions as non-executive Director at Britannic Group
Plc and Eldridge Pope & Co Plc. He spent thirty years at Cadbury
Schweppes Plc, and served on the Board of Cadbury Schweppes from 1979
to 1988.
    Navigators' Chief Executive Officer, Stan Galanski, commented, "We
are delighted with the addition of Mervyn to our Board. He has done a
superb job as the non-executive Chairman of our Lloyd's managing
agency over the last eleven years, during which time it evolved from a
privately held enterprise to a Navigators' business unit. His
substantial international business experience will enhance our global
vision."
    The Navigators Group, Inc. is an international insurance holding
company with insurance company operations, underwriting management
companies, and operations at Lloyd's of London. Headquartered in New
York City, Navigators has offices in major insurance centers in the
United States and the United Kingdom.

    This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" as
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. We cannot
assure that results which we anticipate will be achieved, since
results may differ materially because of known and unknown risks and
uncertainties which we face. Please refer to Navigators' most recent
Forms 10-K and 10-Q and its other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission for a description of Navigators' business and the
important factors which may affect that business. Navigators
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-
looking statement.

    CONTACT: The Navigators Group, Inc.
             Paul J. Malvasio, 914-933-6088
             Executive Vice President
             and Chief Financial Officer
             pmalvasio@navg.com
             www.navg.com