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
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Hide AdThe 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Stamp duty is repealed in June and The Scotsman starts publishing daily editions.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
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Hide AdOn 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
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Hide AdScotsman.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