The Mercurius Caledonius - Comprising The Affairs now in Agitation in Scotland With A Survey of Forraign Intelligence was arguably Scotland's first newspaper. It was founded in Edinburgh in 1660 by the playwright Thomas Sydserf, the son of the Bishop of Galloway.[1] It contained domestic news such as reports of parliamentary debates, reports from abroad and reprints of news from London newspapers. [2]
Twelve editions were published between 1660 and 1661, the first having the date "From Monday Decemb. 31 to Tuesday, Jan. 8th, 1661".[3]
According to Francis Groome, Mercurius Caledonius was preceded by The Scots Intelligencer (1643, AKA The Kingdom's Intelligencer) and Mercurius Publicus (1652).[3]