SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                   -----------


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                          Date of Report: July 9, 1997
                        (Date of earliest event reported)



                              UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



          Virginia                      1-652                    54-0414210
(State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)                                     Identification No.)

           1501 North Hamilton Street                     23230
               Richmond, Virginia                      (Zip Code)
    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)



               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (804) 359-9311


<PAGE>
Item 5.      Other Events.

         The press release issued by the Registrant on July 9, 1997 and attached
hereto as Exhibit 99 is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7.      Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

      (c)    Exhibits.

             99       Press release issued by the Registrant on July 9, 1997.


<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended,  the  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                            UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
                                                     (Registrant)



Date:  July 17, 1997                        By: /s/ William J. Coronado
                                               --------------------------------
                                                    William J. Coronado
                                                    Controller


<PAGE>



                                  Exhibit Index

Number            Document
------            --------

99          Press release issued by the Registrant on July 9, 1997.
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "8-K FILED BY UNIVERSAL CORPORATION", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2351}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "UNIVERSAL CORP /VA/", "cik": "0000102037", "assigned-sic": "5150", "irs-number": "540414210", "state-of-incorporation": "VA", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-00652", "film-number": "97642031"}, "business-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 25099", "street2": "1501 N HAMILTON ST", "city": "RICHMOND", "state": "VA", "zip": "23230", "phone": "8043599311"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "PO BOX 25099", "city": "RICHMOND", "state": "VA", "zip": "23260"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "UNIVERSAL LEAF TOBACCO CO INC", "date-changed": "19880314"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                   -----------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                          Date of Report: July 9, 1997
                        (Date of earliest event reported)

                              UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

          Virginia                      1-652                    54-0414210
(State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)                                     Identification No.)

           1501 North Hamilton Street                     23230
               Richmond, Virginia                      (Zip Code)
    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (804) 359-9311
Item 5.      Other Events.

         The press release issued by the Registrant on July 9, 1997 and attached
hereto as Exhibit 99 is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.      Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

      (c)    Exhibits.

             99       Press release issued by the Registrant on July 9, 1997.
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended,  the  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
                                                     (Registrant)

Date:  July 17, 1997                        By: /s/ William J. Coronado
                                               --------------------------------
                                                    William J. Coronado
                                                    Controller
Exhibit Index

Number            Document
------            --------

99          Press release issued by the Registrant on July 9, 1997.