Lesseps
FERDINAND, VICOMTE DE (les-eps), a French diplomat and engineer; born in Versailles, Nov. 19, consular and diplomatic service. In 1805. He was employed in the French 1854, on the invitation of Saïd Pasha, he visited Egypt to study the problem of made chief director of the works in 1856. canalizing the Isthmus of Suez. He was The canal was opened to traffic Aug. 15, 1869.
He published (1875-1881) five volumes of "Letters, Journals, and Documents Relating to the Suez Canal"; and in 1887, " Recollections of Forty Years."
His attempt to pierce the Isthmus of Panama resulted in failure and a great political scandal. He died Dec. 7, 1894.