'Charles-Louis Havas' (
5 July,
1783, –
21 May,
1858), was a
French writer and founder of the news agency
Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Born at
Rouen, Havas can be regarded as the founder of the concept of a press agency. He translated information from abroad for the French national press, aware of their growing interest in international affairs. In 1825 he founded his own company to carry out such work. In
1832 he created the
Agence Havas and began supplying news about France to foreign customers. He died at
Bougival.
Havas was also a pioneer in the area of advertising.