First Newspaper in Pennsylvania Published December 22, 1719

The first newspaper published in Pennsylvania was entitled the American Weekly Mercury, and was established by Andrew Bradford, at Philadelphia, and sold by John Copsom. The initial number appeared December 22, 1719.

The Mercury was published weekly, generally on Tuesday, but the day of publication varied.

Andrew Bradford died November 23, 1742; and the next number of the Mercury, dated December 2, appeared in mourning.

The widow, Cornelia Bradford, took into partnership Isaiah Warner in March, 1742, and they continued to publish the Mercury until October 18, 1744, when Cornelia Bradford resumed the publication alone, and until the end of 1746, when it was discontinued.

898The second newspaper established in the Province was the Universal Instructor in All Arts and Science; and Pennsylvania Gazette, which continued in publication for many years, becoming the oldest newspaper in the United States a half century after its establishment.

This newspaper first appeared December 24, 1728, and was edited by Samuel Keimer, and printed on a small sheet, pot size folio, 15½ by 12½ inches.

Benjamin Franklin soon after he began business formed the design of publishing a newspaper, but was prevented by the sudden appearance of this Gazette, and was so greatly disappointed that he used his endeavors to bring it into contempt. In this he was successful, and Keimer was soon obliged to relinquish it, for a trifling consideration, and Franklin purchased the good will and fixtures.

At this time Franklin was in partnership with Hugh Meredith. The first part of the title was soon dropped and the paper was called the Pennsylvania Gazette. It soon gained reputation, and when Franklin became postmaster the Gazette enjoyed a wide circulation and liberal advertising patronage.

The partnership was dissolved in 1732, and Franklin in 1748 took into partnership David Hall.

On May 9, 1754, the device of a snake divided into parts, with the motto—“Join or Die,” appeared in this paper. It accompanied an account of the French and Indians having killed and scalped many inhabitants along the frontiers. The account was published with this device, with a view to rouse the British Colonies and cause them to unite in effectual measures for their defense and security against common enemy.

The snake was divided into eight parts to represent first New England; second, New York; third, New Jersey; fourth, Pennsylvania; fifth, Maryland; sixth, Virginia; seventh, North Carolina, and eighth, South Carolina.

The Gazette put on mourning October 31, 1765, on account of the Stamp Act, passed by the British Parliament, which was to take effect the next day. From that time until November 21 following the publication of it was suspended.

In the interim, large handbills, as substitutes, were published. When revived, it was published without an imprint until February 6, 1766, when it then appeared with the name of David Hall, only, who now became the proprietor and the printer of it.

In May, 1766, it was published by Hall and Sellers, who continued it until 1777; but on the approach of the British Army, the publishers retired from Philadelphia and the publication was suspended while the British possessed the city.

On the evacuation of Philadelphia, the Gazette was again revived, and published once a week until the death of Sellers in 1804. After 899this event, it was printed by William and David Hall, then later by Hall and Pierre. When the Gazette observed its centennial of publication, a grandson of David and son of William Hall was the publisher.

The next newspaper to be established in Pennsylvania was the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, which made its initial bow to the public, Tuesday, December 2, 1742. Its publisher was William Bradford.

In 1776, William and Thomas Bradford were the publishers and, like the Gazette, suspended publication during the British occupancy of Philadelphia, but it was revived soon afterward.

A newspaper in the German language was published in Philadelphia as early as May, 1743, by Joseph Crellius. It was called the “High Dutch Pennsylvania Journal.”

In September, 1751, the “Dutch and English Gazette” was published in the two languages “at the German Printing Office,” in Arch Street, by Gotthan Armbruster.

Der Wochentliche Philadelphische Staatsbote was first printed in the German language in January, 1762, by Henry Miller. This was a successful newspaper. It continued until 1779.

Two papers printed in German were published in Germantown, one by Christopher Sower, in 1739, called the Pennsylvania German Recorder of Events. This was discontinued in 1744, when Christopher Sower, Jr., began the publication of the Germantown Zeitung, and continued until the Revolutionary War.

The Pennsylvania Chronicle and Universal Advertiser made its appearance Monday, January 6, 1767. It was published by William Goddard.

This was the fourth paper in the English language established in Philadelphia and the first one with four columns to the page, printed in all the colonies. Joseph Galloway and Thomas Wharton were silent partners of Goddard. The Chronicle was published until February, 1773, when it was removed to Baltimore.

The Pennsylvania Packet, or the General Advertiser, was first published in November, 1771, by John Dunlap. During the British occupancy Dunlap continued the publication of the Packet at Lancaster, and in July, 1778, he published at Philadelphia, and made it a semi-weekly, and then a tri-weekly.

In 1783, Dunlap sold his paper to D. C. Claypoole, who had previously been a partner, and a year later the Packet was published daily. This then became the first daily newspaper in the United States.

The Pennsylvania Ledger, or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Weekly Advertiser, was first published in Philadelphia, January 28, 1775, by James Humphreys, Jr. Humphreys was deemed a Tory and his paper denounced as being under corrupt 900influence. Humphreys was obliged in November, 1776, to discontinue the Ledger, and leave the city.

He returned when the British occupied Philadelphia and revived the publication as a semi-weekly. The last number was published May 23, 1778, a month before the British evacuated the city. He was in possession of advance information, as are some editors of today.

The Pennsylvania Evening Post by Benjamin Towne, as a tri-weekly, was first published January 24, 1775, and it was the third newspaper in the colonies which was published as an evening paper. This paper continued publication in Philadelphia during the British occupancy.

Towne was proscribed by a law of Pennsylvania. He did not, however, leave the State, and continued to publish the Post until 1782, when it died a natural death.

Story and Humphrey’s Pennsylvania Mercury and Universal Advertiser first came before the public in April, 1775. This was the last newspaper to be established in Pennsylvania prior to the Revolution. The Mercury was short lived. The printing house, with all its contents, was destroyed by fire in December, 1775, and in consequence of the event, the paper was discontinued.