FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * CHATHAM J DAVID   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol FIRST AMERICAN CORP [FAF] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 1 FIRST AMERICAN WAY 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/04/2009 (Street) SANTA ANA, CA 92707 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 03/04/2009   A   2,489 A $ 0 6,336.842 D (1) (2) (3) (4)   Common Stock 03/04/2009   M   6,750 A $ 17.25 13,086.842 D (1) (2) (3) (4)   Common Stock 03/04/2009   S   6,750 D $ 22.35 (5) 6,336.842 D (1) (2) (3) (4)   Common Stock               26,968.854 I By Spouse (6)

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Nonemployee Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 17.25

03/04/2009

M

6,750

08/31/1999(7)

06/23/2009

Common Stock

6,750

$ 0

0

D

Nonemployee Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 47.49

12/08/2006(8)

12/08/2015

Common Stock

5,000

5,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
CHATHAM J DAVID 1 FIRST AMERICAN WAY SANTA ANA, CA 92707	X

Signatures

/s/ Jeffrey S. Robinson, Attorney-in-Fact for J. David Chatham		03/05/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Includes 2,489 shares acquired pursuant to a grant of restricted stock units vesting in three equal annual increments commencing 3/4/10, the first anniversary of the grant.
(2)	Includes 1,755 unvested restricted stock units (including shares acquired through automatic dividend reinvestment) acquired pursuant to a grant of 1,707 restricted stock units vesting in three equal annual increments commencing 6/20/09, the first anniversary of the grant.
(3)	Includes 370 unvested restricted stock units (including shares acquired through automatic dividend reinvestment) acquired pursuant to a grant of 1,049 restricted stock units vesting in three equal annual increments commencing 3/5/08, the first anniversary of the grant.
(4)	Includes 1.842 shares acquired through automatic reinvestment of dividends paid as reported in most recent statement of account.
(5)	The price reported is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $22.32 to $22.42, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to The First American Corporation, any security holder of The First American Corporation, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote.
(6)	Includes 325.779 shares acquired through automatic reinvestment of dividends paid as reported in most recent statement of account.
(7)	The option vests in five equal annual increments commencing 8/31/99, the first anniversary of the grant.
(8)	The option vested on 12/8/06, the first anniversary of the grant.

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