The du Ponts came to America after fleeing from France during the Revolution. Welcomed to America by president Thomas Jefferson Eleutheress Irenee du Pont Nemours was encouraged to set-up a powder mill. Jefferson knew that Eleutheress had learned to make gunpowder from the famous chemist Lavoisier. in 1802, Ireneee built his mill on Brandywine Creek near Wilmington, Delaware. the rest is history. Du Pont is still one of the world’s largest chemical firms and to this day the du Pont family has considerable influence. The du Pont family still observes the dictum from Irenee’s father; “No privilege exist that is not inseparably bound to a duty.” I will let theĀ pictures from Life magazine’s August 19, 1957 edition tell the story of this this great American family.
Du Pont dynamite helping to clear New York Harbor 1885
Powder Mill outside of Wilmington
Visiting in-laws Colgate Darden and Crawford Greenwalt
Highway expert Francis Victor du Pont
Henry Francis du Pont renowned horticulturist
Horse expert and bank president William du Pont Jr.
Engineer F. George du Pont at Remington Arms Co. which is controlled by Du Pont
Vice President Henry B. du Pont (right)
Art Collector Lammont du Pont Copeland
Yachtsman Pierre III secretary of the Du Pont firm
Jane “Dedo” du Pont daughter of Pierre at her coming-out party
great post,& pix
Thanks Max, I am glad that you enjoyed it!
Thanks so much for this great post! I grew up near Wilmington, Delaware in the 1980s. Whenever we saw a Rolls Royce in a supermarket parking lot, we knew who’s it was!
Thanks for sharing the memory Gabe! I can picture that vividly.
I grew up down the road from John du Pont. While the family may have been great, he was not. He was mentally unstable and ended up murdering a wresting coach that lived on his estate. Then squandered away a lot of his money and ended up selling off most of his estate to developers.
Jen, thanks for the comment. Very interesting and disturbing. You have motivated me to do some further research.
You might find it interesting that there is a movie coming out about the murder of the wrestler Dave Schultz. While I’m sure it won’t portray the du pont family in a great light, I would love to hear your opponion of the movie and it’s accuracy.
I grew up in Wilmington Delaware during the ’50s and many of my close friends and their parents were part of my life during years at Tower Hill sand beyond.
Thanks for letting me relive those magical years
AWZ – Thanks for the heads up. I will keep an eye out for the film.
What is the name of the painting and artist who painted it that Lammot DuPont Copeland is standing in front of?