Éleuthère Irénée du Pont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Éleuthère Irénée du Pont
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Founder
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company |
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| Born |
Éleuthère Irénée du Pont de Nemours
24 June 1771 |
| Died | 31 October 1834 (aged 63) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Nationality | French, American |
| Known for | Founder of the original DuPont company |
| Title | President, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company |
| Term | 1804–1834 |
| Successor | Alfred Victor Philadelphe du Pont |
| Spouse(s) | Sophie Madeleine Dalmas |
| Children |
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| Parent(s) | Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours Nicole-Charlotte Marie-Louise le Dée de Rencourt |
| Relatives | Du Pont family |
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Éleuthère Irénée du Pont de Nemours (/djuːˈpɒnt/; French: [dypɔ̃]; June 24, 1771 – October 31, 1834) was a French-American chemist and businessman. He is famous for starting the gunpowder company called E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
His family, the du Pont family, became one of America's richest and most important families. Many of his descendants were successful business leaders, politicians, and people who gave a lot to charity. In 1807, du Pont became a member of the American Philosophical Society in his new home, Philadelphia.
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Early Life and Moving to America
Éleuthère Irénée du Pont was born in Paris, France, on June 24, 1771. His father, Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours, was a well-known economist. In 1784, the king of France, King Louis XVI, gave his father a special title. This allowed him to add "de Nemours" to his name.
Young du Pont grew up on his family's estate near Égreville. He loved to study many subjects, but he was especially interested in explosives. In 1791, du Pont married Sophie Dalmas (1775–1828), and they had eight children together.
Du Pont sailed to America before the rest of his family. He arrived in Newport, Rhode Island, on January 1, 1800. His father and his brother's family joined him. By 1802, he had set up his business and his family home, Eleutherian Mills. This home was located on the Brandywine Creek in Delaware. The du Pont family still celebrates January 1st as the day they arrived in America.
Du Pont was a Huguenot, which means he was a French Protestant.
Learning About Gunpowder in France
In 1785, du Pont started studying at the Collège Royal in Paris. Two years later, he became a student of Antoine Lavoisier, a famous chemist and a friend of his father. Lavoisier worked for the government agency that made gunpowder. This is where du Pont learned a lot about how to make and refine gunpowder. He studied "advanced explosives production techniques."
After his training, du Pont worked at a government powder factory. But he left when Lavoisier did. In 1791, du Pont helped his father run their small publishing company in Paris. They published a newspaper that supported changes in the French government.
Du Pont was part of the national guard that supported the French Revolution. However, his family's moderate political views became a problem. In 1792, both du Pont and his father helped King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette escape when their palace was attacked. His father also disagreed with executing the king.
His father was arrested in 1794, but he avoided execution because the "Reign of Terror" ended. In 1797, du Pont and his father were briefly jailed, and their home was searched. These events made his father lose hope in France. He decided to move the family to America. On October 2, 1799, the du Pont family sold their business and sailed to the United States. They arrived in Rhode Island on January 1, 1800.
Starting DuPont Company
When du Pont first arrived in the United States, he didn't plan to make gunpowder again. But he had a lot of knowledge about chemistry and making gunpowder. At that time, American-made gunpowder was not very good.
A story says that du Pont decided to start a gunpowder business during a hunting trip. His gun misfired, which made him think about his training with Lavoisier in France. He noticed that the American gunpowder they were using was expensive but poor quality.
Du Pont asked to visit an American powder factory. He quickly realized that the main ingredient, saltpeter, was fine. But the American way of refining it was not good compared to what he learned in France. He thought he could use his skills to make much better gunpowder in the U.S.
With his father's support, he started to gather money to build his first powder mills. He went back to France in 1801 to get the money and equipment he needed.
The company officially started on April 21, 1801. It was named E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company because Éleuthère Irénée's ideas created the business. He bought land on Brandywine Creek for $6,740. The first gunpowder was made there in April 1804.
Later Life and Legacy
Du Pont passed away on October 31, 1834, in Philadelphia. He was 63 years old. He was buried in the Du Pont de Nemours Cemetery in Wilmington.
The company du Pont started became one of America's biggest and most successful businesses. By the mid-1800s, it was the largest supplier of gunpowder to the U.S. military. It provided about 40 percent of the gunpowder used by the Union Army during the Civil War.
After his death, his sons, Alfred V. du Pont (1798–1856) and Henry du Pont (1812–1889), took over the company. His grandson, Lammot du Pont I (1831–1884), later became the first president of the United States Gunpowder Trade Association.
| President of Du Pont 1802 – 31 October 1834 |
Succeeded by Alfred V. du Pont |
See also
