Du Pont, William, 1855-1928

William du Pont, the youngest son of General Henry du Pont (1812-1889) and Louisa Gerhard du Pont (1816-1900), was born on August 21, 1855 near Wilmington, Del. He attended the Lake Mohegan boarding school (NY) from 1869 to 1872 and spent two semesters at MIT in 1872-1873. In 1878, William du Pont married his cousin May Lammot du Pont (1854-1927). William du Pont worked for the first du Pont dynamite manufacturer, Repauno Chemical Company, as secretary and treasurer (1880-1884) and after the tragic death of Lammot du Pont (1831-1884), as president (1884-1892.)

After the death of his father in 1889, William du Pont gave up his partnership in the du Pont company. In 1892 William and May divorced and William married Annie Rogers Zinn, the daughter of the locomotive maker Theodore Rogers. May Lammot became Mrs. Willard Saulsbury in 1893. William and Annie, alienated by the du Pont family and Wilmington society, left the United States and settled in England for ten years. William resigned from Repauno and other du Pont enterprises. Their daughter Marion was born in 1894 and son William in 1896.

William du Pont owned "Bellevue Hall" in Wilmington, Del., but before returning to the United States, the family bought alternative place for living, "Montpelier," Va., former house of the fourth President of the United States James Madison. "Montpelier" became family residence in 1902. William du Pont also bought an estate in Georgia, called "Altama," in 1913 and spent there winter months.

In 1914, William du Pont became the director and the chairman of the Financial Committee of the E.I du Pont de Nemours Powder Company. In March 1916, together with his cousin Alfred I. du Pont (1864-1935), he was expelled from the committee and the board due to their conflict with company new president Pierre S. du Pont (1870-1954.)

In 1916, William du Pont and Alfred I. du Pont bought the Delaware Trust Company. In 1924, William bought from Alfred his shares of stock and in 1925 took the full control of the bank. He was company vice- president in 1916-1920, president in 1920-1922 and chairman of the board in 1923-1928.

William du Pont invested in the explosives industry (U.S. Flashless Powder Co., director in 1919-1926), the railway equipment industry (Hinckley Brake Co., president in 1895-1900; Miller Train Control Corporation, director in 1911-1928) and the chemical industry (Virginia Haloid Co. and Electro Co., director in 1914-1927.)

William du Pont played a significant role in the American horse and cattle breeding industry. Jersey cattle and Hackney and Percheron horses raised at his breeding farm at "Montpelier" were sold nationwide, participated in shows and won numerous awards. He performed judging duties at numerous horse shows around the country and financed prizes and awards; served as vice-president of the American Hackney Horse Association (1918-1928) and the National Horse Show Association of America (1927); sat on the board of Delaware State Fair, Inc., was a member of The Delaware Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. William du Pont died at his "Altama" estate January 20, 1928.

From the description of William du Pont papers, 1863-1945 (bulk 1880-1928). (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 615808393