Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Who oversaw the construction of the modern Suez Canal?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Red Sea
Map showing the Red Sea and the countries surrounding it. The Red Sea is one of the most heavily traveled waterways in the world. It is about 1,200 miles (1,930 km) long, and its maximum width is about 190 miles (305 km).
The construction of the modern Suez Canal was overseen by the French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps.12
In 1854, Lesseps obtained an Act of Concession from the viceroy of Egypt, Saʿīd Pasha, to build the canal. He subsequently organized the Suez Canal Company in 1858 to manage the project. Construction began in 1859 and lasted for 10 years, with the waterway officially opening on November 17, 1869. While Lesseps directed the overall scheme, the initial technical plans were drawn up by surveyors Linant Bey and Mougel Bey, and the work involved a massive international effort that transitioned from forced labor to the use of modern dredgers and steam shovels.132