John Campbell

John Campbell (1653 – March 4, 1728) was an early American newspaper publisher and editor and Postmaster of Boston. He founded the first regularly published newspaper in British America, The Boston News-Letter.

Biography Campbell was one of a family or kin of Boston booksellers and public officials whose relationships are not determinable. He arrived in Boston some time before 1698, and in 1702 was appointed postmaster, under Neale's monopoly, with the "approbation" of Governor Dudley. The General Court subsidized the post-office at first and in 1703 Campbell was not required to fulfill various civic duties during term as postmaster. As postmaster, he was the news center of the New England provinces, and in 1703 was writing "news letters" of European news to Governor Fitz-John Winthrop of Connecticut, and perhaps to other governors, made up of information received from arriving travelers, etc., with inferences as to New England policy.

In 1704, he decided to make these news items public and for sale; and on April 24 issued the first newspaper in America, The Boston News-Letter, which he edited until 1722. It was not the first attempt at a newspaper, but it was the first to become an established concern.