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: May 17, 2001
                       (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
          Richmond, Virginia                                    23230
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                     (Zip Code)

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

Item 5.         Other Events.

                The press  release  issued  by the  Registrant  on May 17,  2001
                attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  99.1 is  incorporated  herein  by
                reference.

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

     (c)        Exhibits.

                No.     Description
                ---     -----------
                99.1    Press release reporting Universal Leaf North America
                        announces major investment.*

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*Filed Herewith


                               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: May 17, 2001               By: /s/ George C. Freeman, III
                                    ---------------------------------
                                    George C. Freeman, III
                                    General Counsel and Secretary



                                 Exhibit Index

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

99.1           Press release reporting Universal Leaf North America announces
               major investment.*

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*Filed Herewith