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                       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:            July 10, 1998
                           -----------------


                            W.R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
      --------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



         Delaware                       0-7849                 22-1867895
- -------------------------------  -----------------------  ---------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of   (Commission File No.)       (IRS Employer
Incorporation)                                            Identification Number)


165 Mason Street, P.O. Box 2518, Greenwich, CT                 06830-2518
- -----------------------------------------------            ---------------------
       (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                (Zip Code)





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




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ITEM 5.           OTHER EVENTS

         Reference is made to the press release of Registrant, issued on June
24, 1998, which contains information meeting the requirements of this Item 5,
and which is incorporated herein by this reference. A copy of the press release
is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1



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                                   SIGNATURES



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



                               W.R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
                               ----------------------------------------------
                               (Registrant)



July 10, 1998                  By:    /s/ William R. Berkley
- ----------------                      William R. Berkley, Chairman of the Board
Date                                  and Chief Executive Officer



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibits:

99.1              Press Release dated June 24, 1998