The Daily Courant

The Daily Courant, first published on 11 March 1702, was the first British daily newspaper. It was produced by Elizabeth MalletElizabeth Mallet (fl. 1672–1706) was a printer and bookseller who produced Britain’s first daily newspaper, The Daily Courant, the first issue of which appeared on 11 March 1702. at her premises next to the King’s Arms tavern at Fleet Bridge in London.^[1] The newspaper consisted of a single page, with advertisements on the reverse side.^[2] Mallet advertised that she intended to publish only foreign news and would not add any comments of her own, supposing her readers to have “sense enough to make reflections for themselves.”^[3]

After only forty days Mallet sold The Daily Courant to Samuel Buckley, who moved it to premises in the area of Little Britain in London, at “the sign of the Dolphin”. Buckley later became the publisher of The Spectator.^[4] The Daily Courant lasted until 1735, when it was merged with the Daily Gazetteer.^[5]