Du Pont, Henry, 1812-1889

Henry du Pont was born in 1812 at Eleutherian Mills near Wilmington, Delaware. He attended the Mount Airy Military School in Germantown, Pennsylvania, from 1823-1829 and then went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in 1833. As a Second Lieutenant, he joined the 4th Artillery at Fort Monroe in Virginia. On July 15, 1837, he married Louisa Gerhard and together they had 9 children, including Henry Algernon, Victorine Foster, and Evelina. In 1846, he was appointed Adjutant General for the State of Delaware. From 1850-1889, Henry du Pont served as the head of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. In 1861, he was appointed Major-General, commanding Delawares volunteers; thereafter, he was known as The General. It is said that he, as much as anybody, kept Delaware on the Union side during the Civil War. Du Pont was active in Delaware politics, first as a Whig and then as a Republican. He also farmed and became the third owner of Winterthur, one of his familys estates. He died in 1889.

Henry du Pont was the second son of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont and senior partner of E.I du Pont de Nemours & Company from 1850 to 1889.

Henry du Pont was born in 1812 at Eleutherian Mills near Wilmington, Delaware. He attended the Mount Airy Military School in Germantown, Pennsylvania, from 1823-1829 and then went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in 1833. As a Second Lieutenant, he joined the 4th Artillery at Fort Monroe in Virginia. On July 15, 1837, he married Louisa Gerhard and together they had 9 children, including Henry Algernon, Victorine Foster, and Evelina. In 1846, he was appointed Adjutant General for the State of Delaware. From 1850-1889, Henry du Pont served as the head of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. In 1861, he was appointed Major-General, commanding Delaware's volunteers; thereafter, he was known as "The General." It is said that he, as much as anybody, kept Delaware on the Union side during the Civil War. Du Pont was active in Delaware politics, first as a Whig and then as a Republican. He also farmed and became the third owner of Winterthur, one of his family's estates. He died in 1889.

Henry du Pont (1812-1889) was the second son of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. He was educated at Mt. Airy College, Germantown, Pa. and at the United States Military Academy at West Point (1829-33). Upon his graduation from West Point in 1833 he was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the Fourth Artillery. He served at Fort Monroe, Va., and at Fort Mitchell, Ala. when he resigned his commission at the request of his father and returned to Delaware to manage E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. In 1837 he and his brothers became partners in the firm. In 1850 he became the senior partner and director, continuing in this capacity until his death in 1889. Under his direction the company purchased mills on Big Wapwallopen Creek in Luzerne County, Pa., in 1859 in order to supply blasting powder for the nearby Wyoming and Hazleton coal fields. This was its first operation outside Delaware. In 1872 Henry du Pont with his nephew Lammot took a leading part in the formation of the Gunpowder Trade Association to control the powder companies that had sprung up during the Civil War. Under his leadership Du Pont first became a national organization.

Henry du Pont was active in Whig Party Politics in Delaware and in the state militia. He was an active supporter of Abraham Lincoln and served as presidential elector for Delaware.