Final answer:
Ferdinand de Lesseps attempted to construct the Panama Canal in the 1880s but failed due to financial issues and health crises like yellow fever and malaria. His project was referred to as the 'epic fail' due to the extreme challenges and high worker mortality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ferdinand de Lesseps attempted to construct a canal in Panama, which at the time was part of Colombia, in the late 19th century. The endeavor failed due to bankruptcy, diseases such as yellow fever and malaria, and the challenging tropical environment.
Despite his prior success with the Suez Canal, de Lesseps's project in Panama faced relentless tropical rains, flooding, mudslides, and the tragic loss of over 20,000 workers, leading to what is considered one of the largest "epic fails" of engineering attempts of the time.
The United States later took over the project, with President Theodore Roosevelt spearheading the efforts. After helping to facilitate Panama's independence, the U.S. began constructing the Panama Canal with significant infrastructure improvements and medical advances that addressed the issues of malaria and yellow fever.
The Panama Canal was finally completed in 1914, revolutionizing global trade and military strategy, and remains an iconic engineering accomplishment.