As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2002



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 8, 2002



                            W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
                       -----------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


   Delaware                         0-7849                      22-1867895
   --------                         ------                      ----------
(State or other                (Commission File                (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                     Number)                  Identification No.)
incorporation)


                     475 Steamboat Road, Greenwich, CT 06830
                     ---------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 629-3000
                                                           --------------



                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)






Item 5. Other Events

     Reference is made to the press release of W. R. Berkley Corporation (the
"Company") relating to the announcement of the appointment of Philip J. Ablove
to the Company's board of directors, filling the vacancy created earlier this
year in the class of directors continuing in office until 2003. The press
release was issued on August 8, 2002. A copy of the press release is attached to
this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (a) Financial statements of businesses acquired:

          None.

     (b) Pro forma financial information:

          None.

     (c) Exhibits:

          99.1 Press Release dated August 8, 2002






                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                        W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION


                                        By /s/ Eugene G. Ballard
                                           ------------------------------
                                           Name:  Eugene G. Ballard
                                           Title: Senior Vice President,
                                                  Chief Financial Officer and
                                                  Treasurer

Date: August 8, 2002





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit:
- --------

99.1           Press Release dated August 8, 2002