Founded in 1720 and published 3 times a week in Edinburgh, the Caledonian Mercury focused on news of local affairs.

Although it did cover world events, a criticism of the Caledonian Mercury was that coverage of foreign news was often months old by the time it was published. Because of this it was less popular than its competitor, The Edinburgh Evening Courant. A letter written in 1725 by Andrew Millar, a book trade apprentice at the time, also reveals that rival political factions attempted to use both the Mercury and the Courant to voice their views during the Scottish Malt Tax riots.

During the 1820’s, the Caledonian Mercury reported on events set in motion by the body snatchers Burke and Hare, who were responsible for the West Port Murders. Reporting started with the discovery and identification of the head of John Saunders in Hyde Park in 1820, and ended with the trial of William Burke in late 1828 and early 1829.

The Caledonian Mercury was discontinued in 1867, but has returned to publication as an online newspaper.