VOISIN

FRANCE (see also List of Individuals)

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20.5.1821 Versailles/F - 17.3.1918 Paris/F

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François-Philippe Voisin was educated at Ecole X and at Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées. After his work for the Suez Canal, he returned to France and was finally a General Inspector of Bridges and Roads.

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Voisin is known for his works on the Suez Canal. Based on a design of Alois Negrelli (1799-1858) in the early 1850s, Ferdinand de Lesseps (1805-1894) prepared a design across the 160 km isthmus that separated the Mediterranean from the Red Sea. The canal was completed in 1869 and resulted in a much shorter passage from Europe to countries such as India. Voisin joined the works as a chief engineer in 1867 although it had been convened that the Canal administrator should be a committee member seated in Alexandria. Lesseps supported the position of his true collaborator Voisin, who cumulated the positions of superior agent and general canal director. He negotiated the difficulties between the various parties, including the Vice-Roy of Egypt and the members of the Suez Canal Company. Voisin realized that only a large contractor was able to proceed with the difficult foundation works. He subdivided the entire canal length in various constructional lots to attack construction at various places. Voisin coordinated the works by controlling the contractors, preparing the market after the Canal had opened and in supervising the temporal delays. In 1869, after 10 years of work, the Canal was inaugurated as a technical success. Voisin was given the title Bey from the Vice-Roy for contributions to his country. He returned to France as a Lecturer in maritime works and designed the Manchester Canal and engineering works along Danube River. A lasting piece of work represents his seven volumes on the Suez Canal.

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_{Anonymous (2001). Voisin-Bey. Who's who XXe siècle: 1986-1987. Lafitte: Levallois-Perret. Coronio, G. (1997). François-Philippe Voisin. 250 ans de l'Ecole des Ponts en portraits: 125- 126. Presses de l'Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées: Paris. P}

_{Ecole Polytechnique (1995). Voisin Bey, François-Philippe. Thalès: Paris. CD-Rom. P}

_{Montel, N. (1998). Voisin Bey. Le chantier du Canal de Suez. Presses de l'Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées: Paris. P}

_{Voisin, F.P. (1874). Cours de travaux maritimes. Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées: Paris.}

_{Voisin, F.P. (1888). Note sur le canal maritime de Manchester. Annales des Ponts et Chaussées}

_{58(2): 594-599.}

_{Voisin, F.P. (1893). Notice sur les travaux d'amélioration de l'embouchure du Danube et du bras de Soulina. Annales des Ponts et Chaussées 63(1): 1-511.}

_{Voisin, F.P. (1902). Le canal de Suez. Dunod: Paris.}