AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 27, 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): October 26, 2004


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




   DELAWARE                                             1-15202                                   22-1867895
- --------------                                    -------------------                         ------------------
                                                                                       
(State or other   jurisdiction                    (Commission File                           (IRS Employer
of incorporation)                                       Number)                               Identification No.)



      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)


     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

     []  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
         (17 CFR 230.425)

     []  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
         (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

     []  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
         Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     []  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
         Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))




ITEM 2.02.  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 third quarter of 2004. The press release was issued on
October 26, 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.

ITEM 9.01.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c)  Exhibits

         99.1  Press Release, dated October 26, 2004




                                   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:  October 26, 2004




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit:
- --------
99.1                       Press Release dated October 26, 2004