Marguerite, Baroness de Reuter
Encyclopedia
Marguerite, Baroness de Reuter (July 14, 1912 – January 25, 2009) was a European aristocrat
, who was the last survivor of the family which founded the Reuters
news service.
Marguerite was the widow of Oliver, 4th Baron de Reuter, whose grandfather, Paul Julius Reuter, established the Reuters news service in London
in 1851. Paul Julius Reuter, a German-born immigrant to the United Kingdom
, had previously begun his career in journalism in Aachen, Germany, using carrier pigeon
s and telegraphs.
Marguerite was born on July 14, 1912. She was the daughter of George Uehlinger of Neunkirch, Switzerland. Marguerite was a widow for the last 40 years of her life. A patron of the arts, Marguerite was a champion of her family links with Reuters, and of her British citizenship, which she acquired through marriage to her late husband, Oliver, 4th Baron de Reuter.
Her personal interests, especially in the arts, continued well into her older years. She actively continued to ski until her 70s. She was known to be fluent in several languages. Her hobbies included bridge
, as well as attending opera
and ballet
.
Marguerite suffered from a series of successive stroke
s late in 2008. She died on Sunday, January 25, 2009, at a French nursing home
near the border with Monaco
at the age of 96.
Her title, the barony of Reuters, died with her, according to Michael Nelson
, the former general manager
of Reuters. The barony, which was originally a German
title
granted to Paul Julius Reuter in 1871 but later confirmed by Queen Victoria as conferring the privileges of the nobility
in England
, became extinct upon her death in 2009, since neither Marguerite nor her husband had any children during their lifetimes.
Tom Glocer
, the current chief executive of Thomson Reuters
, released a statement upon Marguerite's death saying, "Although the founding family of Reuters were no longer significant shareholder
s in the company, the baroness did notably attend a service at St Bride's Church, London, to mark Reuters' historic move from Fleet Street
to Canary Wharf
in 2005."
Reuters New Agency moved out of its headquarters on Fleet Street
in 2005. The company became part of Thomson Reuters
plc
in 2008.
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
, who was the last survivor of the family which founded the Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
news service.
Marguerite was the widow of Oliver, 4th Baron de Reuter, whose grandfather, Paul Julius Reuter, established the Reuters news service in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1851. Paul Julius Reuter, a German-born immigrant to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, had previously begun his career in journalism in Aachen, Germany, using carrier pigeon
Carrier pigeon
A carrier pigeon is a homing pigeon that is used to carry messages. Using pigeons to carry messages is generally called "pigeon post". Most homing or racing type varieties are used to carry messages. There is no specific breed actually called "carrier pigeon"...
s and telegraphs.
Marguerite was born on July 14, 1912. She was the daughter of George Uehlinger of Neunkirch, Switzerland. Marguerite was a widow for the last 40 years of her life. A patron of the arts, Marguerite was a champion of her family links with Reuters, and of her British citizenship, which she acquired through marriage to her late husband, Oliver, 4th Baron de Reuter.
Her personal interests, especially in the arts, continued well into her older years. She actively continued to ski until her 70s. She was known to be fluent in several languages. Her hobbies included bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
, as well as attending opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
.
Marguerite suffered from a series of successive stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
s late in 2008. She died on Sunday, January 25, 2009, at a French nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
near the border with Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
at the age of 96.
Her title, the barony of Reuters, died with her, according to Michael Nelson
Michael Nelson
Michael John Nelson is an English professional footballer who currently plays as a defender for Championship side Scunthorpe United.-Early career:...
, the former general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of Reuters. The barony, which was originally a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
title
Title
A title is a prefix or suffix added to someone's name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may even be inserted between a first and last name...
granted to Paul Julius Reuter in 1871 but later confirmed by Queen Victoria as conferring the privileges of the nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, became extinct upon her death in 2009, since neither Marguerite nor her husband had any children during their lifetimes.
Tom Glocer
Tom Glocer
Tom Glocer is the CEO of Thomson Reuters and former CEO of Reuters.-Biography:Glocer joined Reuters Group in 1993 as Vice President and Deputy Counsel, Reuters America...
, the current chief executive of Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters Corporation is a provider of information for the world's businesses and professionals and is created by the Thomson Corporation's purchase of Reuters Group on 17 April 2008. Thomson Reuters is headquartered at 3 Times Square, New York City, USA...
, released a statement upon Marguerite's death saying, "Although the founding family of Reuters were no longer significant shareholder
Shareholder
A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
s in the company, the baroness did notably attend a service at St Bride's Church, London, to mark Reuters' historic move from Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
to Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square...
in 2005."
Reuters New Agency moved out of its headquarters on Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
in 2005. The company became part of Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters Corporation is a provider of information for the world's businesses and professionals and is created by the Thomson Corporation's purchase of Reuters Group on 17 April 2008. Thomson Reuters is headquartered at 3 Times Square, New York City, USA...
plc
Public limited company
A public limited company is a limited liability company that sells shares to the public in United Kingdom company law, in the Republic of Ireland and Commonwealth jurisdictions....
in 2008.