Bunau-Varilla, Philippe

Bunau-Varilla, Philippe (-Jean)

(born July 26, 1859, Paris, France—died May 18, 1940, Paris) French engineer. He worked for the French Panama Canal Co. (1884–89) until the project failed. He helped to instigate the revolution that resulted in Panamanian independence and was appointed by the provisional government to negotiate a treaty with the U.S. for the construction of a canal. In 1903 he signed a treaty with U.S. Secretary of State John Hay assuring the construction of the Panama Canal under U.S. control.