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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GZSpirXHGOooge+T2bfy8kgqLVRtfg6jZX6SKoeohkC138fXSummyyiErdSbjDwN
 5X8ISut6S/6lUCyvCeoEzw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001205297-04-000002.txt : 20040427
<SEC-HEADER>0001205297-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040427
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040427161138
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001205297-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040423
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040427

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MELLON FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000064782
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				251233834
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MELLON BANK CTR
		STREET 2:		500 GRANT ST
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15258-0001
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4122345000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MELLON BANK CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MELLON NATIONAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19841014

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ORR JAMES F III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205297

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07410
		FILM NUMBER:		04757183

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		80 PINCKNEY ST
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02114
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6177420733

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		80 PICKNEY ST
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02114
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000064782</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MELLON FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MEL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205297</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ORR JAMES F III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>80 PINCKNEY STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02114</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option - 2004 - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.18</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3300.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-04-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3300.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3300.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Not Applicable</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carl Krasik - Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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