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) August 2, 2004



                     OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
             -------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



             Delaware                   001-10607                36-2678171
----------------------------           -----------           -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction           (Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)                      File Number)          Identification No.)



               307 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60601
               ---------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)



                                 (312) 346-8100
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



                                       N/A
          ------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)







Item 5.  Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure
         -----------------------------------------

On August 2, 2004, Old Republic International Corporation announced that Karl W.
Mueller  will  join the  Registrant  as its  Senior  Vice  President  and  Chief
Financial Officer effective as of October 1, 2004. He will succeed John S. Adams
in  that   position,   who  will  remain  with  the   Registrant   as  its  Vice
President-Finance.  Karl  Mueller is 45 and  currently  a Partner in the Chicago
office of the international  accounting firm of KPMG LLP. Mr. Mueller joined the
predecessor firm of Peat,  Marwick,  Mitchell & Co. in 1981 and became a Partner
in 1995. He has specialized in insurance for the past twelve years.


         Exhibits
         --------

99.1     Press Release dated August 2, 2004.








                                   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 thereunto duly authorized.



                                         OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                         Registrant



     Date:  August 2, 2004               By: /s/ A.C. Zucaro
                                            ----------------------------------
                                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer






                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                                -----------------


         Exhibits

99.1     Press Release dated August 2, 2004.