Robert Read appears to have started the family letterpress printing establishment at #12 Crown Entry, Belfast c1840.
Patrick who lived there also was at that time a writing clerk, and their father was described in the directories as a 'gentleman'.
By 1843, Robert had been joined in partnership by his brother Daniel and the firm was now Letterpress Printers and Lithographers as well as having taken over additional premises at #10. By 1850 they had become publishers and in 1855, now at Crown Entry, thay had founded a tri-weekly newspaper - the 'Belfast Morning News'

In about 1859 the family moved to Holywood, Co. Down, living at first at "Wilmont" and then from 1862 at "Millmoat", Victoria Road. The brothers subsequently acquired a considerable amount of property in Holywood and assisted greatly towards the building of St. Colmcille's Church (1872/1874), where three fine stained-glass windows commemorate the family.

By 1880 the 'Morning News' was still at 6-10 Crown Entry and the firm was also producing the 'Ulster Weekly News'.
The most famous journalist on the staff of the 'Morning News' was Robert Arthur Wilson, better known as 'Barney Malone' (d.1875).

Following the death of Daniel Read in 1881, the 'Morning News' was bought by Edmund Dwyer Gray proprietor of the Dublin based 'Freemans Journal' and a former Lord Mayor of that city. He moved it to Commercial Court, off Donegall Street and transformed it into a daily, Nationalist in tone whereas it had previously been strictly neutral.

Following the Parnelite split, Dr. McAllister, Bishop of Down & Connor, disapproved of the paper's politics and in 1892 it was absorbed by the 'Irish News'.