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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>0000011544-08-000016.txt : 20080331
<SEC-HEADER>0000011544-08-000016.hdr.sgml : 20080331
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080331162506
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000011544-08-000016
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080331
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080331
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080331

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:			HANCOCK PAUL J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236246

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15202
		FILM NUMBER:		08725019

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O W R BERKLEY CORP
		STREET 2:		475 STEAMBOAT RD
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-31</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236246</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HANCOCK PAUL J</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 - Chief Corporate Actuary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25313</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>90468</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25313</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-05-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25313</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On April 4, 2006, the common stock of W. R. Berkley Corporation split 3-for-2 resulting in the reporting person's acquisition of 21,718 additional shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 42,375 Restricted Stock Units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) which are scheduled to vest as follows:  16,875 on April 4, 2008; 13,500 on May 11, 2009; and 12,000 on December 5, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option was originally reported as covering 5,000 shares at an exercise price of $47.375 per share, and has been adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 stock splits of  July 2002, Augut 2003, April 2005 and April 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Stock option grant vested in four equal installments on May 12, 2001, May 12, 2002, May 12, 2003 and May 12, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Paul J. Hancock</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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