8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 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)  November 10, 2004
                                                  ------------------------------

                         THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION
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             (Exact Name of the Registrant as Specified in Charter)

California                          001-13585                         95-1068610
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(State or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission                    (IRS Employer
of Incorporation)                   File Number)             Identification No.)

1 First American Way, Santa Ana, California                           92707-5913
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                              (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (714) 800-3000
                                                    ----------------------------

                                 Not Applicable.
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          (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:

     |_| 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 5.02      Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of
               Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

     On November 10, 2004, The First American Corporation (the "Company")
announced that its board of directors has named Dennis J. Gilmore to the newly
created position of chief operating officer of the Company, effective
immediately.

     Mr. Gilmore, 46, began his career at the Company in 1993 with the real
estate tax service. In 1994, he transitioned to First American Title Insurance
Company, establishing and helping build the subsidiary's highly successful
Lenders Advantage Division. In 1997, Mr. Gilmore moved to subsidiary First
American Real Estate Solutions (RES) as its first president. Mr. Gilmore will
continue to lead First American's Property Information Segment. He most recently
served as executive vice president of the Company, a position he held since
January.

     A press release announcing the promotion and further describing Mr.
Gilmore's business experience is attached as Exhibit 99.1, and is incorporated
by reference into this current report.

Item 9.01.     Financial Statements and Exhibits.


Exhibit No.            Description
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99.1                   Press Release




                                   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.


                                       THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION



Date: November 10, 2004              By: /s/ Thomas A. Klemens
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                     Name:   Thomas A. Klemens
                                     Title:  Senior Executive Vice President and
                                             Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1



               DENNIS J. GILMORE APPOINTED CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
                       FOR THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

SANTA ANA, Calif., Nov. 10, 2004 - The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF),
the nation's largest data provider, today announced that Dennis J. Gilmore has
been appointed to the newly created position of chief operating officer for the
corporation, reporting to Parker S. Kennedy.

     As chief operating officer, Gilmore will be responsible for helping
establish the strategic course of the company's operating and technology
initiatives and managing its offshore operations, while continuing in his
current role of president of the corporation's Property Information Group.

     "This new role provides an exciting opportunity to drive even greater
efficiencies as we continue to develop and implement our corporate strategies,"
said Gilmore.

     "This promotion recognizes the increasingly prominent role Dennis has
played in the growth and leadership of First American," stated Parker S.
Kennedy, chairman and chief executive officer of The First American Corporation.
"In addition to his current duties, Dennis will concentrate on our
mortgage-related operations and will help to ensure the delivery of the best and
most efficient mortgage products to our customers."

     "Our corporate strategy spans several market segments but is driven by the
common elements of information, data, process and technology," stated Craig
DeRoy, president of The First American Corporation. "Dennis' experience crosses
several of these areas and he will be extremely helpful in making sure First
American continues to provide the best in class operational support for all we
offer. He will do a great job in this new role."

     Prior to joining First American, Gilmore was vice president for TRTS Data
Services, Inc., from 1988 until the company was acquired by First American in
1991. He went on to serve as senior vice president in charge of loan servicing
for Western Federal Savings for two years before joining First American as
regional vice president for First American Real Estate Tax Service in 1993. A
year later, Gilmore transitioned to First American Title Insurance Company,
where he established the Lenders Advantage Division and oversaw its expansion
throughout the United States. With the formation of First American's joint
venture with Experian in 1997, Gilmore was promoted to president of First
American Real Estate Solutions and assumed leadership of First American's
Property Information Group. His extensive knowledge of title operations,
mortgage-related services and property information led to his most recent
promotion to executive vice president for the holding company in January 2004,
allowing him to focus on the design and integration of products and services
involving multiple operating segments.

     Gilmore holds bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration
from San Diego State University and Loyola Marymount University, respectively. A
native of California, he currently resides in Coto de Caza, Calif., with his
wife, Alison, and their three daughters.

     The First American Corporation is a Fortune 500 company that traces its
history to 1889. As the nation's largest data provider, the company supplies
businesses and consumers with information resources in connection with the major
economic events of people's lives, such as getting a job; renting an apartment;
buying a car, house, boat or airplane; securing a mortgage; opening or buying a
business; and planning for retirement. The First American Family of Companies,
many of which command leading market share positions in their respective
industries, operate within six primary business segments, including: Title
Insurance and Services, Specialty Insurance, Mortgage Information, Property
Information, Credit Information and Screening Information. With revenues of
$6.21 billion in 2003, First American has 30,000 employees in approximately
1,800 offices throughout the United States and abroad. More information about
the company and an archive of its press releases can be found at
www.firstam.com.

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