-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RkxbvJwl4ba1Xwkm/3j33DRlY2Z2rfBu0igTpJGxMC2E/K90S/JDk4/8QaAjfhXj
 MKu1N/HoEQdmQa9y7ZV70w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000011544-08-000006.txt : 20080229
<SEC-HEADER>0000011544-08-000006.hdr.sgml : 20080229
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080229105435
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000011544-08-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080226
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080229
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080229

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ebers Kevin H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001428457

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15202
		FILM NUMBER:		08653348

	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
</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>2008-02-26</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001428457</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ebers Kevin H</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 - Information Technology</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16962</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>4322</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>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-05-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-05-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12707</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.27</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-05-09</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-05-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15188</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.07</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-08-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12657</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 13,875 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units that are scheduled to vest as follows:  3,375 on August 3, 2009; and 10,500 on August 2, 2010.</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 February 27, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option became exercisable in four equal installments on May 12, 2001, May 12, 2002, May 12, 2003 and May 12, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option became exercisable in four equal installments on May 9, 2003, May 9, 2004, May 9, 2005 and May 9, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This option is exercisable in four equal installments.  The first three installments became exercisable on August 6, 2005,  August 6, 2006 and August 6, 2007.  The last installment becomes exercisable on  August 6, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kevin H. Ebers</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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