Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817

Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours wrote his autobiography to the year 1765 while in hiding near Paris in September 1792.

From the description of Autobiography, 1792 : typescript copy. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 86119300

French economist.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : [Paris], to Thomas Jefferson, 1813 Feb. 10. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270744066

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Paris, to Augustin Monneron, 1798 May 21. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270744019

These essays were published by Du Pont de Nemours as "Lettres sur les saloons de 1773, 1777 et 1779 addressées Du Pont de Nemours à La Margrave Caroline-Louise de Bade." in ARCHIVES DE L'ART-FRANCAIS (Paris, 1908).

From the description of "Les Trois Sallons de 1773, 1777 et 1779, lettres à Son Altesse Sérénissime Madame la Margrave Régnante de Bade". (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122292433

Nemours was a French economist who was also active in politics.

From the guide to the Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours letters to Madame Lavoisier, 1788-1816., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours wrote this essay at the suggestion of Thomas Jefferson. When it was completed in August of 1800, a copy was sent to Thomas Jefferson for comment and corrections. Jefferson kept the manuscript for fifteen years before turning his attention to it in the spring of 1816. Du Pont de Nemours died in August of 1817 while Jefferson's associate, the Virginia attorney Francis Walker Gilmer (1790-1826), was translating the manuscript into English. At any rate, the original copy sent to Jefferson and Gilmer's translation have never been located. This copy was acquired by Pierre Samuel du Pont (1870-1954) from a granddaughter of Robert Maskell Patterson (1787-1854). Patterson was a former president of the American Philosophical Society. Du Pont de Nemours sent him a copy of his treatise on education in 1812.

From the description of Sur l'éducation nationale dans les Etats-Unis d'Amérique. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 86119143

DuPont de Nemours was a French economist; friend and desciple of François Quesnay and collaborator of Turgot (1774-76). Boissy d'Anglas was a French statesman who aided in the overthrow of Robespierre.

From the description of Letter, [23 Dec. 1794], to Boissy d'Anglas. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122510852

During the summer of 1771 Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours tutored the son of Carl Friedrich, Margrave of Baden. In 1773 he began writing a series of letters to the King of Sweden, the King of Poland, and the Margrave of Baden concerning new books, inventions, notable art, political matters, and general current affairs as observed from Paris. In October-November, 1773, he resided at Karlshuhe as a councilor of the Margrave of Baden.

From the description of Correspondence, 1771-1806 [microform and photoprints]. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122333744

Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours' autobiography entitled "Memoires de Pierre Samuel Du Pont adressés à ses enfans-Rectitudine Sto--Septembre 1792" (4 September 1792) 228 pages is divided into fifteen chapters. It was written while Du Pont de Nemours was in hiding at Cormeilles-en-Paris, near Paris, during the first week of the Reign of Terror.

From the description of Autobiography, 1792. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 86123646

Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours was born in Paris in 1739. After being apprenticed to a watchmaker, he began writing on economic matters. His first major work was on the grain trade in which he argued for a relaxation on government regulation. By 1763 he had become identified with the Physiocrats which brought him to the attention of Minister Turgot. In 1774 he was commissioned Inspecteur Général du Commerce. He played a major role in negotiating the Anglo-French Commercial Treaty of 1786. During the French Revolution du Pont was identified with the moderate Girondists. In 1789 he was elected to the Constitutent Assembly and took the Tennis Court Oath. However, during the period of Jacobin ascendancy he was imprisoned. In 1799 he and his family emigrated to America. After visiting Thomas Jefferson in Washington, D.C., Du Pont de Nemours and his son Eleuthére Irénée selected a site on the banks of the Brandywine River in Delaware to establish a black powder manufactory. Between 1805 and 1815 he lived in France where he served in a number of political and diplomatic positions. Upon the return of Napoleon from Elba he once again left France for America.

From the description of Correspondence, 1787-1817 [typed transcriptions]. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122503385

Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours was born in Paris on December 14, 1739. He was apprenticed as a watchmaker, but during the early 1760s he began to study and write on economic matters, and in 1767 coined the term Physiocracy, which means the rule of nature, to describe the complex doctrine of François Quesnay, which is now recognized as the first modern school of economics.

In July 1774, the family departed for Poland, where Du Pont was to serve the Polish monarch in various capacities, including that of honorary councilor. He was shortly recalled to France, however, and commissioned as Inspecteur Général du Commerce, a position he held until its abolition in 1788. During the late 1770s he was an economic advisor to Jacques Necker, and in the early 1780s he was involved in the negotiations which led to the Anglo-French Commercial Treaty of 1786. In 1786 he was appointed Counseiller d'Etat by Louis XVI, and the next year he served as secretary of the first Assemblée des Notables convened at Versailles. He also served as a member of the Assemblée Nationale Constituante (1789-1791), where he allied himself with the moderate Girondist faction. After Robespierre took power, Du Pont was arrested in July 1794, but he escaped the guillotine upon Robespierre's fall at the end of the month. In 1795 he was chosen as a member of the Counseil des Anciens. Following the coup d'état of September 4, 1795, he was again arrested and held for one night.

The du Ponts began to explore the possibility of emigration to the United States. On January 3, 1800, accompanied by his sons, Victor and Eleuthère Irénée, he arrived in America. Du Pont de Nemours and his sons established the commission house of Du Pont de Nemours, Père et Fils & Cie. in New York.

Du Pont de Nemours and his wife returned to France in 1802, and he held various government posts under Napoleon. In 1814 he became a member of the provisional government which deposed Napoleon and exiled him to Elba. Upon Napoleon's return, Du Pont de Nemours again fled to America, where he died at the home of his son, Eleuthère Irénée in Delaware on August 7, 1817.

From the description of Papers, 1769-1831. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122292340

Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours was born in Paris December 14, 1739. He attended school in Paris, studying the classics, theology, mathematics, and mechanics. He was apprenticed as a watchmaker, but during the early 1760s he began to study and write on economic matters, and in 1767 coined the term, Physiocracy, which means rule of nature, to describe the complex doctrine of François Quesnay, which is now recognized as the first modern school of economics. In July 1774 the family departed for Poland, where du Pont was to serve the Polish monarch in various capacities, including that of honorary councillor. He was shortly recalled to France, however, and commissioned as Inspecteur Général du Commerce, a position he held until its abolition in 1788. During the late 1770s he was an economic advisor to Jacques Necker and in the early 1780s he was involved in the negotiations which led to the Anglo-French Commercial Treaty of 1783. In 1786 he was appointed Counseiller d'Etat by Louis XVI and the next year he served as secretary of the first Assemblée des Notables convened at Versailles. He also served as a member of the Assemblée Nationale Constituante (1789-1791), where he aligned himself with the moderate Girondist faction. After Robespierre took power, Du Pont was arrested in July 1794, but he escaped the guillotine upon Robespierre's fall at the end of the month. Following the coup d'état of September 4, 1797, he was again arrested and held for one night.

In 1799 Du Pont de Nemours left France with his family and settled in the United States. In 1802 his son, Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, established a black powder manufactory in Delaware. During the Directory period Pierre Samuel du Pont returned to France where he served in a number of diplomatic positions. He was involved in the negotiations which led to the Louisiana Purchase. When Napoleon returned from Elba, he returned to the United States, where he died in 1817.

From the description of Papers, 1757-1836. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122370804