Hubert Beuve-Méry

Born on 5 January 1902 in Paris, Hubert Beuve-Méry founded Le Monde in 1944 at the behest of Charles de Gaulle. Following the liberation of France Beuve-Méry built Le Monde from the ruins of Le Temps using its offices, printing presses, masthead and those staff members who had not collaborated with the Germans. He retired his editorship in 1969 but retained an office at the Le Monde building until his death at age 87 on 6 August 1989, at his home in Fontainebleau, near Paris.