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)
                                 April 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 April 18, 2002, the registrant issued a press release announcing its
earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 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 April 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: April 18, 2002                 By:  /s/ Terry L. Troupe
                                          -------------------
                                          Terry L. Troupe
                                          Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer