Scotsman Timeline

1817

The first issue of The Scotsman

1817: The first issue of The Scotsman, subtitled The Edinburgh Political and Literary Journal, is published on Saturday 25 January, as a weekly paper devoted to liberal institutions.

Set up by solicitor William Ritchie and customs official Charles Maclaren, it is sold at 10d per copy.

Early circulation figures average 800-900 copies.

Offices are based on Edinburgh’s High Street.

1822

Twice a week

The paper goes twice weekly.

1831

The Scotsman increases in size

The Scotsman increases in size and changes its front page from editorial to advertising and announcements.

1836

Price drop

The price is reduced to 4d

1855

The Daily Scotsman

The paper changes its name to The Daily Scotsman. First daily on June 19.

Daily editions

Stamp duty is repealed in June and The Scotsman starts publishing daily editions.

1860

30 Cockburn Street

The offices move to 30 Cockburn Street. The paper is enlarged, “Daily” is dropped and it is sold for 1d per copy.

1865

Retail Agents

The Scotsman becomes the first paper to sell directly to readers through retail agents.

1872

The Scotsman Train

The Scotsman is the first company to run its own train, delivering papers to Glasgow and the west of Scotland

1873

Circulation: 40,000

Circulation reaches 40,000

1886

Evening Dispatch

The company publishes a new sister paper called Evening Dispatch

1904

North Bridge

On 19, December the paper moves to new premises at North Bridge

1922

First photograph

On February 3, first photograph published (of a brooch) within editorial of the paper. Previously only adverts had used photos.

1928

Telegraphed pictures

The Scotsman is the first newspaper to telegraph pictures across from the Continent.

1947

Edinburgh Festival

Editor J Murray Watson is on the first Edinburgh Festival committee.

1953

Thomson ownership

Roy H Thomson acquires the majority share-hold.

1955

Centenary

The Scotsman celebrates its centenary as a daily paper.

1957

Front page change

The Scotsman front page changes back to editorial from advertising.

1962

Magazine

The Scotsman is one of the first British newspapers to publish a magazine supplement.

1963

Evening News

The Scotsman company takes over the Evening News and merges the Evening Dispatch into it as the company becomes a subsidiary of the Thomson Organisation.

1987

End of hot metal

The North Bridge HQ undergoes a multi-million pound development, heralding the end of hot metal printing and the start of computer technology.

1988

Scotland on Sunday

Sunday sister paper, Scotland on Sunday, is launched.

1995

Barclay brothers

The Scotsman and The Scotsman Publishing Ltd are sold to the Barclay brothers’ Ellerman Investments.

2000

Scotsman.com

Scotsman.com replaces the existing website to develop the best newspaper website in Scotland.

2004

Compact edition

The Scotsman publishes a compact edition on Saturdays beginning March 6th.

2012

Newspaper of the Year

The Scotsman was named newspaper of the year at the Scottish Press Awards

2014

Independence referendum

Scotsman.com has its highest every monthly audience of four million in September which was the month of the Scottish independence referendum

New offices

The Scotsman moves to new offices in Edinburgh at Orchard Brae House

2015

Responsive website

The Scotsman replaces its existing website and becomes fully responsive across all devices