Which newspaper published the first obituary? I thought of the obituaries for ordinary people, not for eminent people like kings or actors.

MyGirl2000

*"The obituary art in its first incarnation was practiced by the news book compilers of 17th century England ... It flowered in the 18th century ... it grew luxuriant, and sometimes ornate, in the 19th century; it became unfashionable and fell into widespread neglect in the 20th. Then, with the appointment of reformist editors, the obituary experienced its own restoration." ?Nigel Starck, Posthumous Parallel and Parallax : the obituary revival on three continents [Journalism Studies v.6, no.3, 2005, p.267-283] Jan 03 13, 4:24 AM

MyGirl2000

www.lian.com/TANAKA/comhosei/NPinEB.htm The urge to inform the public of official developments and pronouncements has been a characteristic of most autocratic rulers. This urge was fulfilled in ancient Rome by the Acta Diurna ("Daily Events"), a daily gazette dating from 59 BC and attributed in origin to Julius Caesar. Handwritten copies of this early journal were posted in prominent places in Rome and in the provinces with the clear intention of feeding the populace official information. The Acta Diurna was not, however, restricted to proclamations, edicts, or even to political decisions taken in the Roman Senate, the actions of which were reported separately in the Acta Senatus (literally "Proceedings of the Senate"). The typical Acta Diurna might contain news of gladiatorial contests, astrological omens, notable marriages, births and deaths, public appointments, and trials and executions. Such reading matter complemented the usual fare of military news and plebiscite results also given in the Acta Diurna and presaged the future popularity of such newspaper fillers as horoscopes, the obituary column, and the sports pages. Copyright 1994-1998 Encyclopaedia Britannica Jan 03 13, 4:45 AM