April Start of the digging of the canal at Port Said. An official order by the Egyptian government to halt work, ignored by Ferdinand de Lesseps. After meeting with Ferdinand de Lesseps, Napoleon III officially supports the canal project. The waters of the Mediterranean flow into Lake Timsah. Upon the death of Said, Ismail Pasha becomes the Viceroy of Egypt.
Turkey orders the project to be suspended.
The conflict between Egypt and Turkey is resolved thanks to Napoleon III's arbitration. The Company then abandons the fresh water canal and 60,000 hectares of irrigable land and accepts the obligation that fellahs should no longer be employed on the construction. The latter are partially replaced by machines. The waters of the Red Sea join those of the Mediterranean. 16 November Inauguration of the Suez Canal.