-----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,
 B2Nqf8isTsAoHpKa4osYAtLOKxmnHetmZk7605/ZmG83vveh4QC2EN81pEo04cD8
 XS8p86+1R24so4fKqe+9TQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-002913.txt : 20050210
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-002913.hdr.sgml : 20050210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050210103344
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-002913
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050210
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050210

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:			HIGGONS RICHARD T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205955

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06450
		FILM NUMBER:		05591050

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GREAT LAKES CHEMICAL
		STREET 2:		500 E 96TH ST STE 500
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46240
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000043362</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GREAT LAKES CHEMICAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GLK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205955</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HIGGONS RICHARD T</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-02-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-02-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of restricted stock units under the 2002 Employee Stock Compensation Plan which entitles grantee to receive shares on vesting.  The units vest in four (4) equal installments beginning one year after the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Karen Witte Duros, Attorney-in-Fact for Richard T. Higgons</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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