Du Pont, Irénée, 1876-1963

Irénée du Pont (1876-1963) was born at Nemours, near Eleutherian Mills, New Castle County, Delaware. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He began work for E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. in 1903 in the Construction Division of the Black Powder Operating Department. After gaining experience, he was named Assistant Treasurer in 1905 and manager of the Development Department three years later. In 1915 he joined with his brothers Pierre and Lammot to organize a syndicate which gained control of the Company by purchasing the shares of stock owned by T. Coleman du Pont. When Pierre S. du Pont became president, Irénée became treasurer and four years later, when Pierre resigned his office to become president of General Motors, Irénée took over as president of the Du Pont Company. He served in this capacity from 1919 until 1926.

In the 1920s Irénée du Pont was active in the Association Against the Prohibition Amendment, and in the 1930s he was a founding member and important supporter of the American Liberty League. He continued serving on the Board of Directors of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. until 1959.

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