Who is Ferdinand de Lesseps?
Ferdinand Marie, Vicomte de Lesseps GCSI (French: [də lesɛps]; 19 November 1805 – 7 December 1894) was a French diplomat and later developer of the Suez Canal, which in 1869 joined the Mediterranean and Red Seas, substantially reducing sailing distances and times between Europe and East Asia.
What is Count de Lesseps famous for?
Ferdinand Marie, Count de Lesseps GCSI (French: [də lesɛps]; 19 November 1805 – 7 December 1894) was a French diplomat and later developer of the Suez Canal, which in 1869 joined the Mediterranean and Red Seas, substantially reducing sailing distances and times between Europe and East Asia.
What projects did Ferdinand de Lesseps do in Panama?
Panama: Transcontinental railroad and canal projects. … canal to the French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps (who had been instrumental in building the Suez Canal in Egypt) and his Universal Interocean Canal Company; construction began in 1880.
How did Ferdinand de Lesseps help build the Suez Canal?
After Said Pasha succeeded his father as the viceroy of Egypt, Ferdinand de Lesseps invited de Lesseps for a visit on November 7, 1854. On of the 30th of the month, the two signed an agreement with him to build the Suez Canal.
Who is Ferdinand de Lesseps and what problems did he have?
Ferdinand Marie, Comte de Lesseps GCSI (French: [də lesɛps]; 19 November 1805 – 7 December 1894) was a French diplomat and later developer of the Suez Canal, which in 1869 joined the Mediterranean and Red Seas, substantially reducing sailing distances and times between Europe and East Asia.
Who was Ferdinand de Lesseps Panama Canal?
Ferdinand de Lesseps, builder of the Suez Canal, led the project. His plan called for a sea-level canal to be dug along the path of the Panama Railroad. Some 50 miles in length, the canal would be less than half as long as the Suez.
Did Ferdinand de Lesseps build the Panama Canal?
The French effort was thwarted by disease, unreliable machinery, and almost a billion cubic yards of rock that stood in the way. In 1879, Ferdinand Marie de Lesseps, the builder of the Suez Canal proposed a sea level canal through Panama.
Why was de Lesseps project abandoned 1889?
The dangerous, difficult work and insurmountable financial problems ultimately doomed the French effort to build a sea-level canal and the investors were financially devastated when the company liquidated in 1889.
Who built the Panama Canal?
Theodore Roosevelt, negotiated the Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty, giving the U.S. control of the Canal Zone. Work under U.S. supervision began in 1904, and the Panama Canal was completed in 1914. Tens of thousands of people, mostly labourers from Barbados, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, worked on the project.
Who built Suez Canal?
Between 1859 and 1869, Egyptian khedive Saʿīd Pasha partnered with France's Suez Canal Company to build the present canal connecting the Mediterranean and Red seas.
Who first attempted to build the Panama Canal but failed?
Malaria, yellow fever, and other tropical diseases conspired against the de Lesseps campaign and after 9 years and a loss of approximately 20,000 lives, the French attempt went bankrupt.
Did the de Lesseps give the Statue of Liberty?
July 4 was the day selected for the formal delivery of the statue. On that day Count Ferdinand de Lesseps, builder of the Suez Canal, who had succeeded De Laboulaye as president of the Franco-American Union, presented to the United States, through Minister Morton, the colossal Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World.
How do you pronounce Ferdinand de Lesseps?
0:180:44How to Pronounce Ferdinand de Lesseps - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIs how you would say it in french ferdinand de liseps it'd be fine in english to say it as ferdinandMoreIs how you would say it in french ferdinand de liseps it'd be fine in english to say it as ferdinand de lessaps ferdinand de la sapps.
Who opened Suez Canal?
In 1975, Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat reopened the Suez Canal as a gesture of peace after talks with Israel. Today, dozens of ships navigate the canal daily, carrying more than 300 million tons of goods a year.
Who finished the Panama Canal?
Panama CanalPanama Canal Canal de PanamáOriginal ownerSociété internationale du CanalPrincipal engineerJohn Findley Wallace (1904–1905), John Frank Stevens (1905–1907), George Washington Goethals (1907–1914)Construction beganMay 4, 1904Date completedAugust 15, 191416 more rows
Did the de Lesseps give the Statue of Liberty?
July 4 was the day selected for the formal delivery of the statue. On that day Count Ferdinand de Lesseps, builder of the Suez Canal, who had succeeded De Laboulaye as president of the Franco-American Union, presented to the United States, through Minister Morton, the colossal Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World.
Why did the US choose to build the canal in Panama and not in Nicaragua?
America originally wanted to build a canal in Nicaragua, not Panama. Throughout the 1800s, the United States, which wanted a canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific for economic and military reasons, considered Nicaragua a more feasible location than Panama.
What was the name of the French engineer that built the Suez Canal and started the Panama Canal?
Ferdinand de LessepsThe Anglo-American canal, however, never went beyond the planning stages. French attempts to build a canal through Panama (province of Colombia) advanced further. Led by Ferdinand de Lesseps—the builder of the Suez Canal in Egypt—the French began excavating in 1880.
Ancestry
The origins of Lesseps' family are traceable back as far as the end of the 14th century. His ancestors, it is believed, came from Spain, and settled at Bayonne during the period of English rule in the region.
Career
In 1828 Lesseps was sent as an assistant vice-consul to Tunis, where his father was consul-general. He aided the escape of Youssouff, pursued by the soldiers of the Bey, of whom he was one of the officers, for violation of the seraglio law.
Second marriage and issue
In Paris on November 25, 1869—a week after the opening of the Suez Canal—Lesseps married his second wife, who was a third his age. Louise-Hélène Autard de Bragard was born on the island of Mauritius in 1848 at Plaines Wilhems and died on 29 January 1909 at Château de La Chesnay in Guilly, Vatan, Indre.
Statue of Liberty
On 11 June 1884, Levi P. Morton, the Minister of the United States to France, gave a banquet in honor of the Franco-American Union and in celebration of the completion of the Statue of Liberty. Ferdinand de Lesseps, as head of the Franco-American Union, formally presented the statue to the United States, saying:
Death
Lesseps died at Château de La Chesnaye in Guilly, Vatan, Indre, on 7 December 1894. He was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. The grave stands at one of the junctions amongst other large family tombs.
Legacy
On 26 July 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser used de Lesseps' surname as the codeword to Egyptian personnel designated to seize the offices of Suez Canal Company.
In popular culture
Lesseps was portrayed by Tyrone Power in the 1938 film Suez, with Loretta Young, a film which provoked complaints and legal action from Lesseps' family and the Egyptian government.
Where was Ferdinand de Lesseps born?
Ferdinand de Lesseps was born in Versailles, Yvelines, on 19 November 1805. His father, Mathieu de Lesseps was in the consular service while his mother Catherine de Grévigné was the daughter of Henri de Grevigné. He had one sister and two brothers.
Why was Ferdinand de Lesseps awarded the Albert Medal?
Ferdinand de Lesseps was honored with the Albert Medal of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) in 1870 ‘for services rendered to Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, by the realisation of Suez Canal’.
What did Le Pere describe?
Le Pere had described the details of an abandoned Suez Canal project which kindled de Lesseps’ imagination. He decided to construct a canal across the African isthmus. He could not immediately start working on this plan though years later he got the opportunity to make his dream come true.
What was the role of the canal in the European colonization of Africa?
The canal, which joined the Mediterranean and Red Seas, considerably reduced the sailing distances and thereby the time taken to travel between Europe and East Asia. This in turn led to a dramatic surge in world trade and played an important role in increasing European colonization of Africa. Ferdinand de Lesseps was born as the son ...
What was the first job of the French emperor?
Career. He started working when he was 18 years old. His first job was in the commissary department of the army where he worked for two years. In 1825, he was made the assistant vice-consul at Lisbon, where his uncle, Barthélemy de Lesseps, was the French chargé d'affaires.
Who wrote the book on the Suez Canal?
One of these books was a memoir on an ancient abandoned Suez Canal written by Napoleon Bonaparte's civil engineer Jacques-Marie Le Père. De Lesseps was fascinated by this work and he came up with the idea of constructing a canal across the African isthmus.
Where did Ferdinand's father work?
His father worked in Italy when Ferdinand was a little boy and thus he spent his initial years there. He received his education from College of Henry IV in Paris.
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What did Ferdinand de Lesseps do?
From 1825 until 1827, Ferdinand de Lesseps served as an assistant vice-consul in Lisbon, where his uncle, Bartholomew Ferdinand de Lesseps also served as French charge d’affaires. Ferdinand de Lesseps was appointed an assistant vice-consul to Tunis in 1828 joining his father who was the consul-general. During this period, he helped in the escape of an officer of the Bey, Youssouff, pursued by other soldiers of the Bey for violating the Seraglio law. Ferdinand de Lesseps left Algeria after he was appointed vice-consul at Alexandra in 1832.
When did Ferdinand de Lesseps return to France?
He returned to France in 1837 , in 1839 was appointed consul of Rotterdam, and was transferred to Malaga the following year. After serving two years in Malaga, Ferdin and de Lesseps was sent to Barcelona and within the same year promoted to the status of consul general. Ferdinand de Lesseps later served as the minister of France at Madrid from 1848 to 1849 and retired afterward. On August 30, 1851, Ferdinand de Lesseps was created the 334th Commander and the 200th Grand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword.
How many children did Ferdinand de Lesseps have?
Ferdinand de Lesseps was married twice, first to Mile Agathe Delamalle on December 21, 1837, in France. The couple had five children; Charles Théodore de Lesseps, His second marriage was to Mlle Louise-Hélène Autard de Bragard on November 25, 1869, in Paris.
Who built the Suez Canal?
On of the 30th of the month, the two signed an agreement with him to build the Suez Canal. Two French engineers Louis Maurice Adolphe and Linant de Bellefonds who were in the Egyptian service, Linant Bey, and Mougel Bey, drew the first design for the project. The design provided a direct link between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. After some adjustment to the original design, the civil engineers constituting the International Commission for the piercing of the Isthmus of Suez in adopted it in 1856. There were several oppositions and criticisms, but de Lesseps was unperturbed and raised the needed capital for the project. On November 17, 1869, the Khedive, Ismail Pashaofficially opened canal.
Where was Ferdinand de Lesseps born?
Ferdinand de Lesseps was born in Versailles, on November 19th 1805. His father, Mathieu de Lesseps, who was a diplomat, was on leave at the time.
What did Lesseps do in Egypt?
For several years, Lesseps became a farmer. through his mother-in-law, Mme Delamalle, had purchased a large property in the Indre district. The manor, La Chesnaye, an old residence of Agnès Sorel, needed renovated and the land improved. Lesseps became seriously involved in this activity. In his spare time, he continued working on the files he has initiated during his first stay in Egypt, between 1832 and 1837. Among them was work which had been undertaken in the Suez isthmus, in particular a survey made by Le Père during the Napoleonic campaign as well as complementary investigations by a French engineer, Linant de Bellefonds. Lesseps was still enthusiastic with a project which, at the time, was called "Canal des Deux Mers" (Two Seas Canal). In 1852, he had even written an report on the project which he had made translated into Arabic and submitted to the viceroy Abbas Pacha. But this initial attempt unfortunately came to nothing.
How many children did Ferdinand have?
Just after the inauguration, in Ismaïlia, Ferdinand married his second wife Louise-Hélène Autard de Bragard, with whom he would have 12 children.
How long did Ferdinand stay in the French embassy?
By his uncle's side, he became a diplomatic attaché in the French embassy in Lisbon for two years. He then spent a few years with his father who was chargé d'affaires in Tunis.
Where did Ferdinand's mother come from?
His mother was born Catherine de Grivegnée and came from a family settled in Spain, but with Flemish origin. Ferdinand often travelled to Madrid to visit his cousin, the Countess of Montijo. He met there the young Eugénie, who would become the Empress of France.. Ferdinand formed a close friendship with Eugénie and on several occasions Ferdinand turned to his niece to win the Emperor's favour. Eugenie for her part followed the advice which her uncle lavished on her.
Who was Ferdinand married to?
In 1837, Ferdinand married Agathe Delamalle who was to die in 1853 and whom he had five children.
Who was Ferdinand's father?
Mathieu, Ferdinand's father and Barthélemy's younger brother, started rather young a diplomatic career which lead him around the Mediterranean sea, in Morocco, Libya and Spain. In 1803 or 1804, Napoleon appointed him "Commissaire Général" in Egypt. With an outstanding perspicacity, Mathieu , at once realised the important role the brilliant adventurer Mehemet-Ali could play in Egypt's government. Indeed, Mehemet-Ali would become the real founder of the modern Egyptian State. Lesseps supported Mehemet-Ali all along his rise to power. When Mehemet-Ali became viceroy, Lesseps guaranteed him the support of France. The friendship forged then was to be extremely useful to Ferdinand, some 50 years later.
Overview
Ferdinand Marie, Comte de Lesseps GCSI was a French diplomat and later developer of the Suez Canal, which in 1869 joined the Mediterranean and Red Seas, substantially reducing sailing distances and times between Europe and East Asia.
He attempted to repeat this success with an effort to build a Panama Canal at s…
Ancestry
The origins of Lesseps' family are traceable back as far as the end of the 14th century. His ancestors, it is believed, came from Spain, and settled at Bayonne during the period of English rule in the region. One of his great-grandfathers, Pierre de Lesseps (Bayonne, 2 January 1690 – Bayonne, 20 August 1759), son of Bertrand Lesseps (1649–1708) and wife (m. 18 April 1675) Louise Fisson (1654–1690), was town clerk and at the same time secretary to Queen Maria Anna …
Early years
Ferdinand de Lesseps was born November 19, 1805 in Versailles, Yvelines. He had a sister, Adélaïde de Lesseps (1803–1879), married to Jules Tallien de Cabarrus (19 April 1801 – 1870), and two brothers, Théodore de Lesseps (Cádiz, 25 September 1802 – Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 20 May 1874), married in 1828 to Antonia Denois (Paris, 27 September 1802 – Paris, 29 December 1878), and Jules de Lesseps (Pisa, 16 February 1809 – Paris, 10 October 1887), married on 11 …
Career
In 1828 Lesseps was sent as an assistant vice-consul to Tunis, where his father was consul-general. He aided the escape of Youssouff, pursued by the soldiers of the Bey, of whom he was one of the officers, for violation of the seraglio law. Youssouff acknowledged this protection given by a Frenchman by distinguishing himself in the ranks of the French army at the time of the Frenc…
Second marriage and issue
In Paris on November 25, 1869—a week after the opening of the Suez Canal—Lesseps married his second wife, who was a third his age. Louise-Hélène Autard de Bragard was born on the island of Mauritius in 1848 at Plaines Wilhems and died on 29 January 1909 at Château de La Chesnay in Guilly, Vatan, Indre. She was the daughter of Gustave Adolphe Autard de Bragard, a former Magistrate of Mauritius, and wife Marie-Louise Carcenac (1817–1857), daughter of Pierre Carce…
Statue of Liberty
On 11 June 1884, Levi P. Morton, the Minister of the United States to France, gave a banquet in honor of the Franco-American Union and in celebration of the completion of the Statue of Liberty. Ferdinand de Lesseps, as head of the Franco-American Union, formally presented the statue to the United States, saying:
This is the result of the devoted enthusiasm, the intelligence and the noblest sentiments which c…
Death
Lesseps died at Château de La Chesnaye in Guilly, Vatan, Indre, on 7 December 1894. He was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. The grave stands at one of the junctions amongst other large family tombs.
Legacy
On 26 July 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser used de Lesseps' surname as the codeword to Egyptian personnel designated to seize the offices of Suez Canal Company. Nasser used the codeword repeatedly in a public address in Alexandria that was broadcast to the nation via radio, and minutes later announced that he had issued a presidential decree nationalising the Suez Canal Company. The statue of Lesseps at the entrance of the Suez Canal was removed fro…