Du Pont, William, 1896-1965

William du Pont, Jr., the second child of William du Pont and Annie Rogers du Pont, was born February 11, 1896 at Losely Park, Surrey, England. In 1902 the family moved to Montpelier, Va., the former residence of President Madison. In 1919, William du Pont, Jr. maried Jean Liseter Austin of Pennsylvania and the couple resided in "Rosemont," near Newtown Square, Pa. They had four children. In 1941, they divorced, and William du Pont, Jr., moved to his estate "Bellevue Hall" north of Wilmington, Del. He married prominent American tennis player Margaret Osborn in 1947. They had one son. William and Margaret divorced in 1964. William du Pont, Jr. died in Wilmington December 31, 1965.

William du Pont, Jr. started his career as a plant manager of the Ball Grain Explosives Co. during World War I; he sat on the board of directors of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. from 1930 and was a member of its Financial Committee; was president of Delaware Trust Company from 1929 and chairman of the board from 1952.

William du Pont, Jr., was the driving force behind the construction of the first upscale suburban Wilmington development Westover Hills, reconstructions of Wilmington landmark Delaware Trust Building in 1928-1930, performed by the New York architectural firm Dennison & Hirons, and construction of the Hercules Tower addition in 1958-1960.

William du Pont, Jr. was well known as a breeder of thoroughbred race horses and pure bred cattle. At his farms at Rosemont, Pa., Bellevue Hall, Del., Fair Hill, Md. and Walnut Hall, Va. he built horse stables and racing and trainig facilities, held herds of Hereford and Santa Gertrudis cattle and kennels of his foxhound pack under the name of Foxcatcher hounds. He became an authority in the design of flat and steeplechase race courses and built over 20 tracks, including Delaware Park and the National Cup course at Fair Hill, Md.

William du Pont, Jr. was an active promoter of tennis in Delaware. He was the president of Delaware Lawn Tennis Association from 1945 to 1953 and financed school and college tennis programs. Among his pesonal acquaintances were famous American tennis player W.T. Tilden and number of prominent female players who succsessfully represented the United States at international competitions.