Suez Canal, the history

The name of Ferdinand Marie de Lesseps is now almost forgotten. But readers of Russian and European newspapers last century it was known as the man who built the Suez Canal, even though that Monsieur had received no technical education. Curiously, how did it happen? During the reign of Louis - Philippe de Lesseps diplomat served as consul general in Barcelona, ??Madrid and Rome. And although he had a lot of merit to the French crown, court intrigues were it not for the teeth. He left the world politics and gave himself up to the economic concerns of the estate of his mother-in arrangement. But a few years later, everything changed. In December 1852 Louis Napoleon declared himself Emperor Napoleon III. A year later he married a black-eyed beauty - Spaniard Countess Eugenie de Montijo, who was a relative of de Lesseps. It was the first bell, and here fortune threw him another piece of news: in Egypt died pro-British government set up and ascended to the throne Francophile Said - Pasha, remembers what his father had helped his father Lesseps, Muhammad Ali come to power. Between the Egyptian ruler and a French diplomat came true friendship. Ferdinand knew that the support of the reigning royal friend and cousin gives him a unique chance to implement an ambitious plan. However, the progenitor of the idea of ??building the Suez Canal was not Lesseps and his son ruined Parisian banker Barthelemy Prosper Anfanten. At one time he lived in St. Petersburg, where they captured the socialist ideas of his compatriot, socialist - utopian Saint - Simon. In July 1832 Anfantena with his closest supporters were sentenced to one year in prison and pay a fine for "amoralku" the matter is that had an article on a new look at the status and role of women in marriage. Behind bars for him and got the idea to create a waterway from the Mediterranean, the Red-in the Indian Ocean. Upon emerging from prison Anfanten father, as he was known associates - the Socialists, was active. November 21, 1846 in Paris, on his initiative is going to a small group of engineers, technicians and industrialists, who formed the core of the Research Society Suez Canal. The fruits of this work will take advantage of slicker Lesseps afterwards. He also will manage and laurels of the winner and creator of the Grand - Channel ... In early 1855 Lesseps received from the Egyptian government concession to build the canal. And then he learned that the Emperor Napoleon III gave the audience its competitor Anfantenu. An unfortunate misfire: Empress Eugenie, knowing the intentions of her beloved cousin, do not assume that the visit of a member of the Research Society can than - that interfere with Ferdinand. However, the cost Lesseps return from Cairo to Paris, both before Anfantenom slammed shut all the doors. Precursors of de Lesseps, the people actually prepared the draft dug the Suez Canal, were removed from the road. It remained the last obstacle-English Premier - Minister decided to stop Project erratic Frenchman. But even here Lesseps did not make a blunder, took advantage of a weakness British democracy, British public opinion. Ferdinand was visiting bankers, industrialists, ship owners, deputies of the opposition in England, Scotland and even Ireland. Wrote an influential article in the London newspaper The Times. As a result, he drew on his side of the library director of the British Museum and even the private secretary to Queen Victoria, then the long-awaited project was finally launched. The Suez Canal was officially opened on Nov. 17, 1869. The first vessel that passed through him from India to Europe, was a ship under British flag. The celebration lasted for seven days and nights. Egyptian hedifat posted on his organization of 28 million gold francs. Not who studied a single semester at the Technical Institute of Ferdinand de Lesseps was promoted to engineer and was elected a member of the French Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the Paris Geographical Society. His name is known from now on every continent.