The New-England Courant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The New-England Courant (also spelled New England Courant) is one of the oldest and the first truly independent American newspaper. It was founded in Boston in 1721 by James Franklin, Benjamin Franklin's older brother. The newspaper participated in several controversies and was suppressed in 1927. Although Ben Franklin started in the newspaper as a typesetter, he later wrote over a dozen articles under the fictitious name Silence Dogood.

Beside political bravery, the Courant also made a number of innovations. It was the first American newspaper to use literary content and humorous essays. It was also the most expensive newspaper of that time, at 4 pence a copy. The print shop was located off Queen Street in Dorset Alley and remains a tourist attraction.

[edit] See also

• History of American newspapers
• History of journalism

[edit] External links

• Brief history and scanned issues, from the Electric Ben Franklin.
• Colonial Newspapers and Magazines, 1704–1775, from Bartleby.com
• The First Newspapers in America
• The letters of Silence Dogood