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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:     October 23, 1998
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                            W.R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
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             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



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


165 Mason Street, P.O. Box 2518, Greenwich, CT                     06830-2518
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  (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 October
14, 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)



October 24, 1998                      By:  /s/ John D. Vollaro
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Date                                       John D. Vollaro,
                                           President and Chief Operating Officer
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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibits:

99.1        Press Release dated October 14, 1998