The Empire was a newspaper published in Sydney, Australia. It was published from 28 December 1850 to 14 February 1875, except for the period from 28 August 1858 to 23 May 1859, when publication was suspended. It was later absorbed by The Evening News. History Henry Parkes founded the Empire and was its editor/proprietor until the business failed in August 1858. He made it "a newspaper destined to be the chief organ of mid-century liberalism and to serve as the rallying and reconciliation point for the sharpest radical and liberal minds of the day". The paper was bought by Samuel Bennett and William Hanson and resumed publication in May 1859 with the promise that "The Empire … will continue under the new management to advocate the same great principles by which it has hitherto been distinguished". In 1875 labour difficulties forced Bennett to merge the Empire with another of his papers, the Evening News. The Evening News continued to be published until 1931 at which point it was closed by Associated Newspapers, which had acquired most Sydney newspaper titles by that time. Digitisation The paper has been digitised as part of the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program project of the National Library of Australia. See also List of newspapers in New South Wales References External links 1850 establishments in Australia Publications established in 1850 Publications disestablished in 1875 Defunct newspapers published in Sydney 1875 disestablishments in Australia Newspapers on Trove