================================================================================




                       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: September 18, 1998
                        (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 September 18, 1998 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 September 18, 1998.





                                      -2-
<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:  September 21, 1998                 By: /s/ William L. Taylor
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              William L. Taylor, Vice President
                                                and Chief Administrative Officer





<PAGE>


                                  Exhibit Index


Exhibit
Number                              Document
------                              --------

  99          Press release issued by the Registrant on September 18, 1998.
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "8-K FILED BY UNIVERSAL CORPORATION", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2680}]
{"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": "98712468"}, "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: September 18, 1998
                        (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 September 18, 1998 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 September 18, 1998.

                                      -2-
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:  September 21, 1998                 By: /s/ William L. Taylor
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              William L. Taylor, Vice President
                                                and Chief Administrative Officer
Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number                              Document
------                              --------

  99          Press release issued by the Registrant on September 18, 1998.