On this date in 1821 – The “Floridian, the first newspaper in northwest Florida, was established in Pensacola. Initially published by Nicholas & Tunstall, the first issue ran on August 18, 1821, with an account of Florida’s transfer to the United States. The second page contained Andrew Jackson’s proclamation to territory residents, and a letter to his troops. The paper was bilingual, with an English version in the left-hand column and a Spanish version on the right. Publication stopped in 1822 due to financial issues. The paper was picked up by John Fitzgerald and Co., who commenced publishing on March 8, 1823. However, the venture did not last, and the final issue was published December 20 of that same year. W. Hasel Hunt bought the press on March 13, 1824, and began printing the “Pensacola Gazette” and “West Florida Advertiser.(Florida Historical Society)
