Robert Stephen Rintoul founds The Spectator

Background. Robert Stephen Rintoul was a Scottish journalist and campaigner for political reform. Before founding The Spectator, he served as editor of the Dundee Advertiser and the London-based Atlas. He moved to London in 1826 to work on The Atlas, establishing the professional foundation for his subsequent venture.

Founding. The Spectator was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving magazine in the world. Rintoul launched the paper in London with the assistance of friends. The magazine is politically conservative, focusing primarily on politics and culture.

Principles. Rintoul's fundamental principles included freedom of the individual, freedom of the press, freedom of trade, religious tolerance, and freedom from blind political adherence. These ideals shaped the magazine's early identity and its stance on political issues, including its opposition to the First Opium War.