Cornelis Lely was a Dutch engineer and politician, born on September 23, 1854, in Amsterdam. He is best known for his role in the development of the Zuiderzee Works, a major hydraulic engineering project aimed at transforming the Zuiderzee, a large inlet of the North Sea, into usable land. This project included the construction of dikes and the creation of the IJsselmeer lake. Lely served as the Minister of Transport, Public Works, and Water Management in the Netherlands. His vision and leadership significantly contributed to the country's water management strategies, making him a key figure in Dutch engineering history. He passed away on May 22, 1929.