Royall, Anne Newport (1769-1854), was an early American newspaperwoman. She wrote for two Washington, D.C., newspapers that she founded when in her 60’s. She published a weekly newspaper, Paul Pry, from 1831 to 1836. In 1836, she founded another newspaper, The Huntress, which appeared until shortly before her death.
Anne Newport was born on June 11, 1769, near Baltimore. She moved to the frontier of Pennsylvania with her parents when she was 3 years old. In 1797, she married Captain William Royall, an officer in the American Revolution (1775-1783). Before Anne Newport Royall became a newspaperwoman, she traveled through the United States and wrote a number of books about her experiences. Royall became an author in her 50’s in order to earn a living. Her husband’s family had cheated her out of the money he left her upon his death in 1812. Social historians still value Royall’s descriptions of the 1800’s. She died on Oct. 1, 1854.
