As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2005

                       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): March 14, 2005


                            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 8.01. Other Events

     Reference is made to the press release of W. R. Berkley Corporation (the
"Company") relating to the announcement of a 3-for-2 common stock split to be
paid in the form of a stock dividend on April 8, 2005 to holders of record on
March 24, 2005, as well as the payment of a regular quarterly cash dividend (on
a post-split basis) in the amount of $.05 per share on April 8, 2005 to holders
of record on March 24, 2005. The press release was issued on March 14, 2005. A
copy of the press release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is
incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (c) Exhibits

     99.1 Press Release, dated March 14, 2005




                                   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: March 14, 2005




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit:
--------

99.1      Press Release dated March 14, 2005