CHRONOLOGY: Reuters, from pigeons to multimedia merger

(Reuters) - Financial news and information provider Reuters Group Plc RTR.L has agreed to the $17.2 billion takeover approach from Canada's Thomson Corp. TOC.TO, the companies announced on Tuesday.

Following is a chronology of key moments in Reuters' long history:

1851 - German-born Paul Julius Reuter opened an office in the City of London which transmitted stock market quotations between London and Paris via the new Calais-Dover cable.

Reuter had previously used pigeons to fly stock prices between Aachen and Brussels, a service that operated for a year until a gap in the telegraph link was closed.

1870s - As overland telegraph and undersea cable facilities developed, Reuters expanded beyond Europe to the Far East in 1872 and South America in 1874.

1925 - The Press Association took a majority holding in Reuters.

1927 - Reuters introduced the teleprinter to distribute news to London newspapers.

1939 - Reuters moved its corporate HQ to 85 Fleet Street.

During both World Wars, Reuters came under pressure from the British government to serve British interests.