The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Reuter, Paul Julius, Baron

REUTER, Paul Julius, Baron, German telegraph promoter: b. Cassel, Germany, 21 July 1816; d. Nice, France, 25 Feb. 1899. He settled in Aix-la-Chapelle in 1849, where he first established his system of transmitting news by telegraph to the leading towns on the Continent, and in 1858 removed to London, where he undertook to supply the English newspapers with foreign news. His enterprise, known as “Reuter's Agency,” occupied a unique field and grew in importance from year to year until it is now in operation in all parts of the world. In 1865 he obtained the permission of the government to lay a cable from England to Cuxhaven, and shortly after to lay one between France and the United States. In 1872 the shah of Persia granted to him the exclusive rights of constructing railways, farming customs and control of the natural resources of the country, but later exchanged these privileges for that of establishing the bank of Persia. He was created baron by the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1871.