Varilla biography

Philippe Jean Bunau-Varilla was a French engineer and soldier. He influenced the United States decision to build a waterway through Panama and encouraged Panama's successful revolution against Colombia. After serving a year as an engineer in the French department of public works, he went to Panama to head one of the three divisions of Ferdinand de Lesseps' Panama Canal Company.

By the age of 26, Bunau-Varilla had temporarily assumed general management of the company. When, amid charges of fraud, Lesseps' company went bankrupt in , Bunau-Varilla, working to revitalize French interest, zealously defended the canal idea. He also, unsuccessfully, attempted to gain Russian support. Eventually abandoning hopes of Browse all BookRags Study Guides.

First president of panama

All rights reserved. Toggle navigation. Sign Up.