Ann Smith Franklin

Ann Smith Franklin (October 2, 1696 – April 16, 1763) was an American colonial newspaper printer and publisher. She inherited the business from her husband, James Franklin, brother of Benjamin Franklin. She published the Newport Mercury, printed an almanac series, and printed Rhode Island paper currency. She was the country’s first female newspaper editor, the first woman to write an almanac, and the first woman inducted into the University of Rhode Island's Journalism Hall of Fame.

Personal life Ann Smith Franklin was married to James Franklin, a printer and the brother of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.

They had five children including daughters Mary and Elizabeth, and son James Jr. (c.1730–1762). James Jr. attended Philadelphia Academy with his cousin William, Benjamin's son, before James Jr. was apprenticed in the printing trade to his uncle Benjamin. After a long illness, James died in Newport in 1735, leaving Ann a widow, aged 39, with three young children to support, one child having died earlier.

Career In 1736, Ann petitioned the General Assembly of Rhode Island, seeking printing work in order to support her family. She was awarded the contract, becoming the General Assembly's official printer to the colony, Under this imprint, they printed a folio of Rhode Island schedules.

Ann Smith Franklin died in 1763.

Posthumous awards Journalism Hall of Fame, University of Rhode Island Yankee Quill Award, 2008 Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, 1998

Partial works Almanacs

General Assembly of Rhode Island

British

Religious

Franklin & Hall