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 influence. 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.
John F. Watson, Annalist, Historian, Antiquarian
and Collector of Historical Objects,
Died December 23, 1860
