Francis Aquila Stout was born in New York City on October 21, 1833. He studied
engineering and law, but never formerly entered a profession. After receiving a
large inheritance, Stout focused his energies on various scientific and charitable
pursuits. He became a member of the American Geographical Society in 1860, and was
later a Vice President from 1872 to 1892. Stout was also a member of several other
clubs, including the Century Association, Knickerbocker Club, and the Union League.
He helped initiate a new topographical survey for the state of New York in 1875 as
well. Stout died on July 18, 1892.
One of Stout's interests was the creation of an interoceanic canal in Central
America, particularly the construction of a shipping route that would make world
shipping easier. He became president of the Nicaragua Canal Construction Company
from its inception in 1887. Another company, the Maritime Canal Company of
Nicaragua, was incorporated in 1889 and had the rights to build a canal. The
Maritime Company made a contract with the Construction Company to begin work on the
canal. However, the Panic of 1893 caused the Maritime Company to go into bankruptcy
before the project could be completed.
