The first-ever edition of the Belfast News-Letter was published on the 1st of September 1737. Still in publication today, the News Letter is the longest-running newspaper in the English language.
It was founded by Francis Joy, a man of Huguenot descent from Killead, Co. Antrim. The Belfast News-Letter began with 3 publications per week but grew to become a daily paper by 1855.
The Belfast News-Letter is currently owned by the Johnston Press. Digitized copies of the Belfast News-Letter can be accessed online at the British Newspaper Archive.
