Question #1

Count Ferdinand de Lesseps was the person who had the idea to construct the Suez Canal. He was French, and he was a good person for the job as he had a past in relationships between other countries, like connections and friends in the East. He also had friends in Egypt and relations with their government. One of his friends was even the former viceroy of Egypt, Abbas Pasha.
He also had experience in solving problems and helping other countries and governments out. Because of this, he would be successful in the construction of the canal because he knew how to work well with other countries and wouldn't give up.