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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000011544-06-000004.txt : 20060110
<SEC-HEADER>0000011544-06-000004.hdr.sgml : 20060110
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060110131658
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000011544-06-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060110
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060110

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Stone Robert Daly
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001347855

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15202
		FILM NUMBER:		06521632

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203 629 3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		475 STEAMBOAT ROAD
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BERKLEY W R CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000011544
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				221867895
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		475 STEAMBOAT ROAD
		STREET 2:		.
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2036293000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		475 STEAMBOAT ROAD
		STREET 2:		.
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000011544</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BERKLEY W R CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BER</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001347855</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Stone Robert Daly</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>475 STEAMBOAT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP - Alt. Mkts. Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29195</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3610</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-06-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-06-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>59063</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 18,750 restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) granted under the W. R. Berkley Corporation 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.  6,750 RSUs are scheduled to vest on August 3, 2009, and 12,000 RSUs are scheduled to vest on December 5,  2010.  The RSUs are governed by the terms of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement(s) under the W. R. Berkley Corporation 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, the form of which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 3, 2005 as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005; and 3,695 shares held in an IRA.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares of W. R. Berkley Corporation common stock owned under the W. R. Berkley Corporation Profit Sharing Plan.  The number of shares in this report is based on a statement of account dated  January 5, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option is exercisable in four equal installments. The first installment became exercisable on June 17, 2005, and the next three installments become exercisable on June 17, 2006, June 17, 2007 and June 17, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert Daly Stone</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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