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 
  
  
                               July 27, 1998           
                     (Date of earliest event reported) 
  
  
                           LIFE RE CORPORATION                   
           (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) 
  
  
  Delaware                  1-11340              01-0437851        
 (State of           (Commission File No.)     (IRS Employer 
 Incorporation)                                Identification No.) 
  
  
                969 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT 06905             
        (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) 
  
  
                                (203) 321-3000                  
            (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) 
  
  
                                 Not Applicable                      
       (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) 
  
  
  

 Item 5.  Other Events. 
  
      Life Re Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Life Re"), Swiss
 Reinsurance Company, a Swiss corporation ("Swiss Re"), and SRC Acquisition
 Corp., a Delaware corporation, have entered into an Agreement and Plan of
 Merger dated as of July 27, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement").  The Merger
 Agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated herein by
 reference.   
  
      Life Re and Swiss Re have issued a joint press release announcing the
 Merger Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is
 incorporated herein by reference. 
  
  
 Item 7.   Financial Statement, Pro Forma Financial Information and
           Exhibits. 
  
 (c)       Exhibits. 
  
 Exhibit No.              Description 
  
      2.1       Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 27, 1998, by
                and among Life Re Corporation, Swiss Reinsurance Company,
                SRC Acquisition Corp. and, if applicable, Swiss Re America
                Holdings Corporation. 
  
      99.1      Press Release issued by Life Re Corporation and Swiss
                Reinsurance Company dated July 27, 1998. 



                                 SIGNATURE 
  
           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. 
  
  
                          LIFE RE CORPORATION 
  
  
                          By: /s/ W. Weldon Wilson 
                             ____________________________
                             W. Weldon Wilson 
                             Vice President, General Counsel  
                               and Secretary 
  
  
 Date:  July 27, 1998

  
                               Exhibit Index 
  
 Exhibit 
 No.                Description     

      2.1       Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 27, 1998, by
                and among Life Re Corporation, Swiss Reinsurance Company,
                SRC Acquisition Corp. and, if applicable, Swiss Re America
                Holdings Corporation. 
  
      99.1      Press Release issued by Life Re Corporation and Swiss
                Reinsurance Company dated July 27, 1998.
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3461}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "LIFE RE CORP", "cik": "0000890445", "assigned-sic": "6311", "irs-number": "010437851", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-11340", "film-number": "98671771"}, "business-address": {"street1": "969 HIGH RIDGE RD", "city": "STAMFORD", "state": "CT", "zip": "06905", "phone": "2033213000"}}
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 
  
  
                               July 27, 1998           
                     (Date of earliest event reported) 
  
  
                           LIFE RE CORPORATION                   
           (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) 
  
  
  Delaware                  1-11340              01-0437851        
 (State of           (Commission File No.)     (IRS Employer 
 Incorporation)                                Identification No.) 
  
  
                969 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT 06905             
        (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) 
  
  
                                (203) 321-3000                  
            (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) 
  
  
                                 Not Applicable                      
       (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) 
  
  
  

 Item 5.  Other Events. 
  
      Life Re Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Life Re"), Swiss
 Reinsurance Company, a Swiss corporation ("Swiss Re"), and SRC Acquisition
 Corp., a Delaware corporation, have entered into an Agreement and Plan of
 Merger dated as of July 27, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement").  The Merger
 Agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated herein by
 reference.   
  
      Life Re and Swiss Re have issued a joint press release announcing the
 Merger Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is
 incorporated herein by reference. 
  
  
 Item 7.   Financial Statement, Pro Forma Financial Information and
           Exhibits. 
  
 (c)       Exhibits. 
  
 Exhibit No.              Description 
  
      2.1       Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 27, 1998, by
                and among Life Re Corporation, Swiss Reinsurance Company,
                SRC Acquisition Corp. and, if applicable, Swiss Re America
                Holdings Corporation. 
  
      99.1      Press Release issued by Life Re Corporation and Swiss
                Reinsurance Company dated July 27, 1998. 

                                 SIGNATURE 
  
           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. 
  
  
                          LIFE RE CORPORATION 
  
  
                          By: /s/ W. Weldon Wilson 
                             ____________________________
                             W. Weldon Wilson 
                             Vice President, General Counsel  
                               and Secretary 
  
  
 Date:  July 27, 1998

  
                               Exhibit Index 
  
 Exhibit 
 No.                Description     

      2.1       Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 27, 1998, by
                and among Life Re Corporation, Swiss Reinsurance Company,
                SRC Acquisition Corp. and, if applicable, Swiss Re America
                Holdings Corporation. 
  
      99.1      Press Release issued by Life Re Corporation and Swiss
                Reinsurance Company dated July 27, 1998.