The British Newspaper, 1801-1850

The British Newspaper, 1801-1850

The Times 10 January 1806
British Library Newspaper Library
Copyright ©1999, The British Library Board

• 1801 - Sept 27 : Weekly Dispatch launched. Became Sunday Dispatch in 1928. Ceased publication in 1961.
• 1802 - Jan 1 : Cobbett's Annual Register founded, later Cobbett's Weekly Political Register. Ceased publication in 1836.
• 1803 : Globe launched. Merged with Pall Mall Gazette in 1921.
• 1804 : Cambrian launched in Swansea. First newspaper published in Wales.
• 1806 - Jan 10 : First use of illustration in the Times: Nelson's funeral.
• 1808 - Jan 3 : Examiner launched. Editor Leigh Hunt imprisoned in 1813 for publishing criticism of the Prince Regent. Ceased publication in 1881.
• 1808 : North Wales Gazette launched in Bangor. First newspaper published in North Wales.
• 1810 : Carmarthen Journal launched.
• 1814 - Jan 1 : Baptist Minister, Joseph Harrris launches Seren Gomer ['Star of Gomer'] in Swansea. First Welsh-language newspaper.
• 1814 - Nov 24 : First issue of a newspaper - the Times - printed on a (Koenig) power press.
• 1815 : Stamp Duty increased to 4d per sheet.
• 1817 - Jan 25 : Scotsman launched.
• 1821 - Feb 18 : New Observer launched. Became the Sunday Times on 20 October 1822.
• 1821 - May 5 : Manchester Guardian founded by John Edward Taylor.
• 1822 : Stamp Office agrees to pass copies of all newspapers to British Museum.
• 1822 : Cardiff Weekly Reporter launched.
• 1822 - March 3 : Bell's Life in London adds and Sporting Chronicle to its title. First newspaper to include sport as a major component. Merged with Sporting Life in 1886.
• 1827 - May 21 : Standard launched, later Evening Standard.
• 1828 - July 5 : Spectator founded.
• 1832 : First recorded British newspaper cartoon, published in Bell's New Weekly Messenger.
• 1837 : Northern Star, major Chartist newspaper, founded in Leeds by Feargus O'Connor.
• 1841 - July 17 : Punch founded. Ceased publication in 1992; re-launched in 1996.
• 1841 - Nov 12 : Jewish Chronicle founded. Oldest Jewish newspaper in the world.
• 1842 - May 14 : Illustrated London News launched: first fully illustrated weekly.
• 1842 - Nov 27 : Lloyd's Illustrated London Newspaper launched, later Lloyd's Weekly News. Became Sunday News in 1923; incorporated with Sunday Graphic in 1931.
• 1843 : Yr Amserau ['The Times'] founded in Liverpool by John Jones and edited by William Rees. Published in the Isle of Man between July and September 1848. Merged with Baner Cymru ['Banner of Wales'] in 1859 under Thomas Gee to become Baner ac Amserau Cymru.
• 1843 - Sept 2 : Economist founded, to campaign for free trade.
• 1843 - Oct 1 : News of the World founded by John Browne Bell at 3d. Newsagents at first refused to handle it at such a low price.
• 1844 - Aug 6 : First story based on telegraphed news printed in the Times: birth of Queen's son at Windsor.
• 1846 : Mitchell's Newspaper Press Directory founded, later Benn's Media Directory.
• 1846 - Jan 21 : Daily News launched, edited by Charles Dickens.
• 1848 : William Howard Russell joins staff of the Times. Shortly to become first professional war correspondent.
• 1848 : First W.H. Smith station bookstall opened, at Euston.
• 1850 - May 5 : Reynold's Weekly Newspaper launched. Became Sunday Citizen in 1962; ceased publication in 1967.

Charles Mitchell, The Newspaper Press Directory ... For the Year 1846 (London, [1846])
British Library Newspaper Library
Copyright ©1999, The British Library Board