<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d8k.txt
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
<TEXT>

<PAGE>

                      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 16, 2001
                                                     --------------


                          NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                                   Delaware
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)



          0-5965                                        36-2723087
 ------------------------                    ---------------------------------
 (Commission File Number)                    (IRS Employer Identification No.)


 Fifty South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois             60675
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code    (312) 630-6000
                                                      --------------
<PAGE>

Item 5.  Other Events

     The information contained in the registrant's April 16, 2001 press release,
reporting on the registrant's earnings for the first quarter of 2001, a copy of
which is filed as Exhibit 99 hereto, is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

    (c)  Exhibits:

     Exhibit 99  April 16, 2001  Press Release

                                       2
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURE

     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.

                                      NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION
                                      --------------------------
                                             (Registrant)



Dated:  April 16, 2001                By:  /s/Perry R. Pero
                                           ----------------
                                              Perry R. Pero
                                              Vice Chairman
                                              and Chief Financial Officer





                                       3
<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                                 -------------




Number           Description              Page Number
------           -----------              -----------

 99      April 16, 2000 Press Release          5

                                       4
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