-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SzqMucXJORc9HwsCFe7WyW8gPKsJJIN7pa2pcqdAnyl1Rj5bOwqsVdixWi1mqZHT
 9IxjxDPC63speNoW0X3unw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-000152.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-000152.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105151236
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-000152
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GREAT LAKES CHEMICAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000043362
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS CHEMICAL PRODUCTS [2890]
		IRS NUMBER:				951765035
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9025 NORTH RIVER RD.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46221
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3177153000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9025 NORTH RIVER RD.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46240

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GREAT LAKES OIL & CHEMICAL CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700925

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MCCLANAHAN OIL CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700925

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HALE MARTIN M SR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207019

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06450
		FILM NUMBER:		04504295

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GREAT LAKES CHEMICAL
		STREET 2:		500 E 96TH STREET SUITE 500
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46240
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3177153000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GREAT LAKES CHEMICAL
		STREET 2:		500 E 96TH STREET SUITE 500
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46240
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2004-01-05</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000043362</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GREAT LAKES CHEMICAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GLK</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207019</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HALE MARTIN M SR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9025 NORTH RIVER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>INDIANAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>46240</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness><value>E</value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>799</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0.00</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>174609</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>192840</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes 190,840 shares indirectly held as co-trustee of the Charles S. Hale Trust.  Mr. Hale disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.  Also includes 2,000 shares indirectly held by Mr. Hale's wife as trustee of the Hale Family Trust for the benefit of their children.  Mr. Hale disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Karen Witte Duros, Attorney-in-Fact for Martin M. Hale, Sr.</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----