Edinburgh Advertiser

The Edinburgh Advertiser was a Scottish newspaper published in Edinburgh for nearly a century between 1764 and 1859. It appeared twice each week, on Tuesday and Friday mornings, making it distinctive in the Edinburgh newspaper market at its launch because it was reportedly the only local paper issued on those days. The first issue was published on 3 January 1764, and the final issue appeared on 29 March 1859, after which the title merged with the Edinburgh Evening Courant. The paper was established by Alexander Donaldson and John Reid. Reid's name appeared on the masthead only briefly, through August 1764, while Donaldson continued as the principal publisher. Donaldson was a bookseller, printer, and publisher who later became associated with the important 1774 copyright case Donaldson v Beckett. In that year, control of the newspaper passed to his son, James Donaldson. James retained the title for several decades before selling it in 1820 to Claud Muirhead of Heriot Row and Gogar Park in Midlothian. The newspaper operated from a succession of Edinburgh premises, reflecting the movement of its printing and publishing business around the city. Recorded addresses included Castlehill, 91 Rose Street, 13 South Hanover Street, 210 High Street, 15 India Street, and 7 Heriot Row. James Muirhead, Claud's father, served as printer, principal manager, and superintendent. The organization also included a number of journeymen printers, pressmen, and other production workers, indicating the labor-intensive nature of early nineteenth-century newspaper manufacture. Editorial responsibility changed over time. The historian and biographer Andrew Crichton served as editor until 1851, when Robert W. Paterson succeeded him. Robert Chambers held editorial control for a short period, and the writer John Wilson, better known by his pseudonym Christopher North, was at one point reported to have been associated with the paper. These connections placed the Edinburgh Advertiser within the literary and intellectual networks of nineteenth-century Scotland, although the newspaper's central identity remained that of a general-interest regional publication. Its contents covered a broad range of subjects, including British and colonial American news, religion, trade, manufacturing, agriculture, politics, entertainment, and essays. The paper also carried literary material and became a source for some historically notable first publications. The 7–11 August 1789 issue printed the first known appearance of the poem or inscription titled "Epitaph: On Robert Fergusson." It also published Robert Burns's "On the Commemoration of Rodney's Victory" in its 16–19 April 1793 issue, followed by several Burns epigrams in the issue of 8 August 1800. The publication was run comparatively frugally. Its initial price was 2½d, rising to 7d by 1820. Its motto, drawn from Juvenal, presented the paper as a miscellany of human activity, encompassing prayer, fear, anger, pleasure, joy, and everyday action. The Edinburgh Advertiser ultimately ended as an independent title when it was combined with the Edinburgh Evening Courant in 1859. It is therefore best understood as a defunct historical newspaper brand rather than a contemporary media business.

The Edinburgh Advertiser began publication in Edinburgh on 3 January 1764. Its founders were Alexander Donaldson and John Reid, although Reid's name disappeared from the masthead after 21 August of that year. Donaldson continued as publisher and later transferred the newspaper to his son James in 1774. The Donaldson family connection was significant in the history of British publishing: Alexander Donaldson was a bookseller and printer involved in Donaldson v Beckett, the 1774 copyright dispute concerning whether literary copyright could continue indefinitely under common law. During its early life, the Edinburgh Advertiser was issued on Tuesday and Friday mornings. This schedule gave it a distinctive position in Edinburgh, where it was described as the only newspaper published on those days when it was founded. The paper developed as a broad newspaper rather than a specialist title. It carried domestic and foreign news, religious material, political reporting, trade and manufacturing information, agricultural coverage, entertainment, and essays. Its readership was served by a relatively economical production model; the cover price began at 2½d and had risen to 7d by 1820. The paper's premises changed several times. Its offices were recorded at Castlehill, 91 Rose Street, 13 South Hanover Street, 210 High Street, 15 India Street, and 7 Heriot Row. After James Donaldson sold the title in 1820, ownership passed to Claud Muirhead of Heriot Row and Gogar Park in Midlothian. Claud's father, James Muirhead, was closely involved in the practical operation of the newspaper as printer, manager, and superintendent. Editorial and literary associations added to the newspaper's historical importance. Andrew Crichton, known as a biographer and historian, edited the paper until 1851, when Robert W. Paterson took over. Robert Chambers exercised editorial control for a short period. The newspaper was also said to have been associated at one time with Christopher North, the pen name of Scottish writer John Wilson. Its production staff included foreman James Macaulay, journeymen printers John Bryce, James Lamb, Robert Lamb, and George Robertson, and pressmen James Thomson and Joseph Thompson. The Edinburgh Advertiser published material that later became important to Scottish literary history. An early appearance of "Epitaph: On Robert Fergusson" was printed in the issue covering 7–11 August 1789. The newspaper published Robert Burns's "On the Commemoration of Rodney's Victory" in the issue dated 16–19 April 1793, and printed several Burns epigrams on 8 August 1800. Its motto, adapted from Juvenal, characterized the newspaper as a collection of the varied activities and emotions of human life. The title continued for almost ninety-five years. Its last issue was published on 29 March 1859, when the newspaper merged with the Edinburgh Evening Courant. The merger ended the Edinburgh Advertiser as an independent publication and left it as a historical newspaper title associated with eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Edinburgh publishing.

• 1859

  Merger and closure

  [1]Edinburgh Advertiseren.wikipedia.org

  The final issue appeared on 29 March, after which the Edinburgh Advertiser merged with the Edinburgh Evening Courant.

• 1851

  Editorial succession

  [1]Edinburgh Advertiseren.wikipedia.org

  Robert W. Paterson replaced Andrew Crichton as editor.

• 1820

  Sale to Claud Muirhead

  [1]Edinburgh Advertiseren.wikipedia.org

  James Donaldson sold the newspaper to Claud Muirhead of Heriot Row and Gogar Park, Midlothian.

• 1800

  Burns epigrams published

  [1]Edinburgh Advertiseren.wikipedia.org

  Several epigrams attributed to Robert Burns appeared in the 8 August issue.

• 1793

  Robert Burns work published

  [1]Edinburgh Advertiseren.wikipedia.org

  The newspaper published Robert Burns's "On the Commemoration of Rodney's Victory" in its 16–19 April issue.

• 1789

  Early publication of Fergusson epitaph

  [1]Edinburgh Advertiseren.wikipedia.org

  The issue covering 7–11 August included the first publication of the piece titled "Epitaph: On Robert Fergusson."

• 1774

  Ownership passes to James Donaldson

  [1]Edinburgh Advertiseren.wikipedia.org

  The newspaper passed from its founding publisher Alexander Donaldson to his son James Donaldson.

• 1764

  First issue published

  [1]Edinburgh Advertiseren.wikipedia.org

  The Edinburgh Advertiser began publication in Edinburgh on 3 January as a twice-weekly newspaper issued on Tuesday and Friday mornings.

A frugal, general-interest Edinburgh newspaper combining local and national affairs with trade, agriculture, religion, politics, entertainment, essays, and literary content.

• Twice-weekly newspaper · 1764

  Edinburgh Advertiser

  The core and only known branded product was a Tuesday-and-Friday morning newspaper serving Edinburgh and covering a wide range of public and cultural subjects. Its editorial mix included British and colonial American news, religion, politics, trade, manufacturing, agriculture, entertainment, essays, and literary works. The title ran from January 1764 until March 1859, when it was merged with the Edinburgh Evening Courant.

• 1859

  Merger with the Edinburgh Evening CourantM&A

  Background

  After almost a century of publication, the Edinburgh Advertiser ceased to operate as an independent title.

  Action taken

  The newspaper was merged with the Edinburgh Evening Courant on 29 March 1859.

  Aftermath

  The Edinburgh Advertiser ended as a standalone newspaper brand.

  Source

1. 1Edinburgh Advertiseren.wikipedia.org