Benjamin Towne is a seriocomic figure in the history of American journalism. His major accomplishment in a troubled life was publishing the Pennsylvania Evening Post, a triweekly begun in 1775 which became in 1783 the first daily newspaper in the United States. The Evening Post evidently moved to daily publication in a last-ditch attempt to remain in business. This desperate effort at daily journalism folded late in 1784.

Towne's career was blighted by his political side-changing, which led him to be "attainted" for treason in 1778, although the charge was later dropped. The Evening Post favored the American revolutionists at first, but changed political colors in 1777 when British troops occupied Philadelphia. When the troops withdrew from the city in the spring of 1778, Towne's newspaper readopted prorevolutionist sympathies.

Contrary to some accounts, Towne was not allowed to publish his newspaper undisturbed after the British troops withdrew from Philadelphia. He was harassed from time...