17 November 1869: Opening of the Suez Canal

On this day in 1869, the Suez Canal, designed by Frenchman Ferdinand de Lessops, opened for business, connecting Europe to Asia through Africa.

Opening ceremony of Suez Canal
The ceremony was presided over by French Empress Eugenie
(Image credit: © Time Life Pictures/Mansell/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images)

Africa has always been something of an obstacle for people wanting to get from Europe to Asia. And so, quite naturally, those who had cause to go between the two have always hankered after a shortcut. As far back as the 18th century BC, there had been a canal connecting the Mediterranean and the Red Sea via the River Nile. The first was built on the orders of Senausert III. Over the years, it followed a pattern of silting up and being re-dredged by various rulers. But it was eventually abandoned in the 8th century AD.

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Ben Judge

Ben studied modern languages at London University's Queen Mary College. After dabbling unhappily in local government finance for a while, he went to work for The Scotsman newspaper in Edinburgh. The launch of the paper's website, scotsman.com, in the early years of the dotcom craze, saw Ben move online to manage the Business and Motors channels before becoming deputy editor with responsibility for all aspects of online production for The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Edinburgh Evening News websites, along with the papers' Edinburgh Festivals website.

Ben joined MoneyWeek as website editor in 2008, just as the Great Financial Crisis was brewing. He has written extensively for the website and magazine, with a particular emphasis on alternative finance and fintech, including blockchain and bitcoin. 

As an early adopter of bitcoin, Ben bought when the price was under $200, but went on to spend it all on foolish fripperies.