AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 28, 2004


                       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): April 27, 2004



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



                                                       
   DELAWARE                       1-15202                       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 12.  RESULTS OF OPERATION AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

      Reference is made to the press release of W. R. Berkley Corporation (the
"Company") relating to the announcement of the Company's results of operations
for the first quarter of 2004. The press release was issued on April 27, 2004. A
copy of the press release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is
incorporated herein by reference.

      The information contained herein shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes
of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be
deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, or the Exchange Act.

                                   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: April 27, 2004

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit:
- -------
        
99.1       Press Release dated April 27, 2004