Why did The Tatler stop publication in January 1711?

The exact cause of The Tatler’s conclusion in January 1711 remains uncertain, though the reasons were likely primarily political.1

In 1710, political power in England shifted to the Tories, causing Sir Richard Steele—a staunch Whig—to lose his position as gazetteer and nearly lose his post as commissioner of stamps. Because The Tatler frequently featured political innuendo, including content aimed at the Tory leader Robert Harley, it is possible that Harley pressured Steele to discontinue the publication.1

Additionally, by the end of 1710, Steele had gathered sufficient material for a collected edition of the periodical. Following the closure of The Tatler, Steele and his collaborator Joseph Addison decided to make a fresh start by launching a new, avowedly nonpolitical periodical titled The Spectator, which began publication on March 1, 1711.21