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 (Date of earliest event reported)
                                  July 18, 2002
                                  -------------




                        Mercantile Bankshares Corporation
                       ----------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Maryland             0-5127             52-0898572
         --------             ------             ----------

         (State or other      (Commission        (IRS Employer
         jurisdiction of      File Number)       Identification No.)
         incorporation)


         Two Hopkins Plaza, P.O. Box 1477, Baltimore, MD 21203
         -----------------------------------------------------
         (Address of principal executive office)     (Zip Code)


         Registrant's telephone number, including area code, (410) 237-5900
                                                             --------------




Item 5.  Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.

     This is an optional filing made to disclose the event reported below. It is
not a filing required by Regulation FD.

     On July 18, 2002, the registrant issued a press release announcing its
earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2002. A copy of the release is attached
as Exhibit 20 and is incorporated herein by reference.



Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits


                                    Exhibits


      20        Press release dated July 18, 2002.






                                   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.



                                     Mercantile Bankshares Corporation
                                               (Registrant)





Date: July 18, 2002                  By:   /s/ Terry L. Troupe
                                           -------------------
                                           Terry L. Troupe
                                           Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer