Research topic: Ferdinand Marie vicomte de Lesseps

Ferdinand Marie Lesseps, vicomte de , 1805-94, French diplomat and engineer. He entered the consular service in 1825 and was minister to Spain (1848-49). Later, while serving in Egypt, he conceived the idea of a Suez Canal , and in 1854 he obtained from Said Pasha, viceroy of Egypt, the concession for opening a passage through the Isthmus of Suez. He was the chief figure in organizing the canal company and raised, by popular subscription in France, over half the capital needed. He supervised the actual construction (1859-69) and achieved world renown when the venture proved successful. In 1878... Read more