Suez canal and crisis

The 106-mile canal links the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. It was built by the international Suez Canal Company, under the guidance of Ferdinand de Lesseps, and opened in 1869. The British gained an interest in 1875 when Disraeli purchased 40 per cent of the shares from the khedive for the government. The canal was protected by British troops from 1883 until 1956. In July 1956 the Egyptian government, under Nasser, nationalized the canal despite the fact that the Canal Company's concession ran until 1968. Anglo-French military intervention in November failed to regain control of the canal, which reopened in April 1957. The canal was again closed during the ‘Six Day War’ of June 1967 and did not reopen until 1975.