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Suez Canal, end of 19th Century

By 1874, when Disraeli took office for the second time as British Prime Minister, British shipping dominated traffic through the Suez Canal by four to one. Yet, it was owned solely by French shareholders and the Egyptian ruler, Khedive Ismail Pasha. The two parties had came together in 1869, to form the Suez Canal Company. At that time there were several countries interested in buying the excess shares of the canal. The French were the most capable contenders. There is several things that can be said about this triumph for England. First, it allowed England to maintain its empire for many years to come. Second it established a balance of power on the canal that probably could not have been created if any other party would have bought it.