Boston News-Letter

Boston News-Letter, first regularly published newspaper in America. It was initially issued as a weekly on April 24, 1704, by John Campbell, postmaster of Boston, who had been writing newsletters to the New England governors. The paper was printed by Bartholomew Green, who in 1727 became the owner and changed the name to the Weekly News-Letter. Under Richard Draper, who became editor in 1752, the paper supported Britain in its differences with the American colonies. When Draper died, his widow continued the pro-British policy. The paper was discontinued when she left Boston during the British evacuation of the city on March 17, 1776, during the American War of Independence.