The Edinburgh Courant was a broadsheet newspaper from the 18th century. It was published out of Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. Its first issue was dated February 14–19, 1705 and was sold for a penny. It was Scotland's first regional newspaper and it was produced twice weekly for five years, thereafter continuing as the Scots Courant until April 1720.
The paper was first printed in 1705 by James Watson printer but only 55 copies were issued. In 1706 it briefly continued under the name "Scots Courant" before becoming dormant.[1]
In 1718, the Edinburgh Evening Courant began publication, as an evening newspaper, being first printed by James MacEwan,[2] or McQueen or McEwen on the High street section of the Royal Mile, published three times per week as a Whig publication in opposition to the Jacobite paper the Caledonian Mercury. passing to his protege, Alexander Kincaid in 1735.[3] It survived until the Edinburgh Evening News came into existence in 1873.
It was founded by James Watson (who had also published the Edinburgh Gazette from 1700)[4] and had its main printing office was at Craigs Close at 170 High Street on the Royal Mile, the premises generally being known as the King's Printing House.[5]
In 1725, during the time of the Scottish Malt Tax riots, rival political factions used – or at least attempted to use – newspapers including the Edinburgh Evening Courant and the Caledonian Mercury as their "mouthpieces", as a letter from the then book trade apprentice Andrew Millar indicates. Millar was apprenticed to James McEuen, who had been printer, editor, and principal bookseller of The Edinburgh Evening Courant since 1718.[6]
Like other Scottish newspapers of the period, the Edinburgh Evening Courant published advertisements offering rewards for the return of runaway slaves that had been brought to Scotland, since slavery was still assumed to be legal on Scottish soil. An advertisement placed in the Edinburgh Evening Courant on February 13, 1727 stated that:
Run away on the 7th instant from Dr Gustavus Brown’s Lodgings in Glasgow, a Negro Woman, named Ann, being about 18 Years of Age, with a green Gown and a Brass Collar about her Neck, on which are engraved these words [“Gustavus Brown in Dalkieth his Negro, 1726.”] Whoever apprehends her, so as she may be recovered, shall have two Guineas Reward, and necessary Charges allowed by Laurence Dinwiddie Junior Merchant in Glasgow, or by James Mitchelson Jeweller in Edinburgh.[7]
Images of the newspaper for two years (1750 and 1884) have been digitalized and can be viewed through Find my Past and Ancestry.com, respectively with a subscription.[9] Microfiche copies of all surviving copies are available for inspection free of charge at the Edinburgh City Library (by appointment).
^Dictionary of National Biography: James Watson (d.1722)
^"(190) – Scottish Post Office Directories > Towns > Edinburgh > 1805-1834 – Post Office annual directory > 1832–1833 – Scottish Directories – National Library of Scotland".
^"The manuscripts, Letter from Andrew Millar to Robert Wodrow". Andrew Millar Project. UK: University of Edinburgh. 15 July 1725. Retrieved 3 June 2016. See footnotes 10 and 14.
^Taylor, D. J. (2004). "Hannay, James (1827–1873), writer.". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/12213. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^"Edinburgh Courant (Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland)". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
External linksEdit
Ancestry.com
The Scotsman
The Hannays of Knock and Garrarie
October 17, 2023
edinburgh, courant, broadsheet, newspaper, from, 18th, century, published, edinburgh, midlothian, scotland, first, issue, dated, february, 1705, sold, penny, scotland, first, regional, newspaper, produced, twice, weekly, five, years, thereafter, continuing, sc. The Edinburgh Courant was a broadsheet newspaper from the 18th century It was published out of Edinburgh Midlothian Scotland Its first issue was dated February 14 19 1705 and was sold for a penny It was Scotland s first regional newspaper and it was produced twice weekly for five years thereafter continuing as the Scots Courant until April 1720 Contents 1 History 2 Editors 3 Archives 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe paper was first printed in 1705 by James Watson printer but only 55 copies were issued In 1706 it briefly continued under the name Scots Courant before becoming dormant 1 In 1718 the Edinburgh Evening Courant began publication as an evening newspaper being first printed by James MacEwan 2 or McQueen or McEwen on the High street section of the Royal Mile published three times per week as a Whig publication in opposition to the Jacobite paper the Caledonian Mercury passing to his protege Alexander Kincaid in 1735 3 It survived until the Edinburgh Evening News came into existence in 1873 It was founded by James Watson who had also published the Edinburgh Gazette from 1700 4 and had its main printing office was at Craigs Close at 170 High Street on the Royal Mile the premises generally being known as the King s Printing House 5 In 1725 during the time of the Scottish Malt Tax riots rival political factions used or at least attempted to use newspapers including the Edinburgh Evening Courant and the Caledonian Mercury as their mouthpieces as a letter from the then book trade apprentice Andrew Millar indicates Millar was apprenticed to James McEuen who had been printer editor and principal bookseller of The Edinburgh Evening Courant since 1718 6 Like other Scottish newspapers of the period the Edinburgh Evening Courant published advertisements offering rewards for the return of runaway slaves that had been brought to Scotland since slavery was still assumed to be legal on Scottish soil An advertisement placed in the Edinburgh Evening Courant on February 13 1727 stated that Run away on the 7th instant from Dr Gustavus Brown s Lodgings in Glasgow a Negro Woman named Ann being about 18 Years of Age with a green Gown and a Brass Collar about her Neck on which are engraved these words Gustavus Brown in Dalkieth his Negro 1726 Whoever apprehends her so as she may be recovered shall have two Guineas Reward and necessary Charges allowed by Laurence Dinwiddie Junior Merchant in Glasgow or by James Mitchelson Jeweller in Edinburgh 7 Editors EditDaniel Defoe author of the 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe and then based at Moubray House was its editor in the early 18th century James Hannay Naval History writer was its editor from 1860 to 1864 citation needed 8 Archives EditImages of the newspaper for two years 1750 and 1884 have been digitalized and can be viewed through Find my Past and Ancestry com respectively with a subscription 9 Microfiche copies of all surviving copies are available for inspection free of charge at the Edinburgh City Library by appointment References Edit Grant s Old and New Edinburgh vol 2 p 283 Grant s Old and New Edinburgh vol 2 p 287 Alexander Kincaid a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Dictionary of National Biography James Watson d 1722 190 Scottish Post Office Directories gt Towns gt Edinburgh gt 1805 1834 Post Office annual directory gt 1832 1833 Scottish Directories National Library of Scotland The manuscripts Letter from Andrew Millar to Robert Wodrow Andrew Millar Project UK University of Edinburgh 15 July 1725 Retrieved 3 June 2016 See footnotes 10 and 14 https blog historicenvironment scot 2018 11 edinburghs part slave trade Taylor D J 2004 Hannay James 1827 1873 writer Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 12213 Subscription or UK public library membership required Edinburgh Courant Edinburgh Midlothian Scotland Ancestry com Retrieved 28 April 2019 External links EditConcise History of British Newspapers The Word of the Street Ancestry com The Scotsman The Hannays of Knock and Garrarie Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edinburgh Courant amp oldid 1178590906, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
