Du Pont, Henry, 1812-1889

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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.

From the description of Papers 1859-1889. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 122649259

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.

From the description of Miscellaneous letters, 1811-1887 [photoprints]. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122568063

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.

From the description of Papers 1859-1889. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 441862542

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.

From the description of Papers, 1822-1899. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 86094017

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Du Pont, Lammot, 1831-1884. Papers, 1850-1884. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Du Pont-Kemble-De Forest families. Correspondence, 1840-1882. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Elliott, Johnson & Co. Two letters to Henry du Pont, 1887. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Du Pont, Henry, 1812-1889. ALS : to James C. Aiken, 1869, Febrary 8. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Copies of Henry du Pont's U.S. Military Academy records, 1828-1890 [photocopies]. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Du Pont, Sophie Madeleine, 1810-1888. Estate papers, 1888-1900 [photocopies]. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Pierre S. (Pierre Samuel), 1870-1954,. Acquisitions of Pierre S. du Pont, 1438-1921. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Du Pont, Henry 1812-1889. Papers 1859-1889. Winterthur Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Pierre S. (Pierre Samuel), 1870-1954,. The P. S. du Pont Office Collection, 1749-1939. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Alfred Victor, 1798-1856. Papers, 1803-1897. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. General accounts, 1800-1903. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Bidermann family. Letters, 1828-1890. Winterthur Library
referencedIn Du Pont, H. A. (Henry Algernon), 1838-1926. Papers, 1843-1926. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Louise du Pont Crowninshield papers 1800-1958 Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Thomas F. Bayard Papers, 1780-1899, (bulk 1860-1889) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Du Pont, Eleuthère Irénée, 1771-1834. Papers, 1771-1922. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. Records, 1800-1905. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Henry Belin du Pont, Jr., papers, 1920-1970. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Louisa Gerhard, 1816-1900. Papers 1807-1900. Winterthur Library
referencedIn Papers of Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Barnes Bliss, ca. 1860-1969 (inclusive) Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Du Pont, Henry, 1812-1889. Papers 1859-1889. Winterthur Library
referencedIn E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. Correspondence, 1805-1901. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Shipley, Joseph, 1795-1867. Papers, 1741-1898 [photoprints and microfilm]. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Du Pont, Henry, 1812-1889. Papers, 1822-1899. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Henry Francis, 1880-1969,. The Winterthur Manuscripts 1588-1955. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Hancock, Harold Bell, 1913-1987. Henry du Pont : typescript. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Smith, Eleuthera du Pont, 1806-1876. Papers, 1816-1876. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Hayes, John D. (John Daniel), 1902-1991. Research notes on Samuel Francis Du Pont, 1824-1865. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Lobdell Car Wheel Company. Records, 1836-1968. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Du Pont, Henry, 1812-1889. Miscellaneous letters, 1811-1887 [photoprints]. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Du Pont, William 1855-1928. William du Pont papers, 1863-1945 (bulk 1880-1928). Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Thomas F. Bayard Papers, 1780-1899, (bulk 1860-1889) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Du Pont, Sophie Madeleine, 1810-1888. Papers, 1818-1892. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Eugene, 1840-1902. Papers, 1859-1920. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Bauduy, Victorine du Pont, 1792-1861. Papers, 1798-1861. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Gentieu, Pierre A., 1842-1930. Reminiscences of one of Du Pont's employees : typescript, n.d. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Pierre S. (Pierre Samuel), 1870-1954,. The Longwood Manuscripts, 1438-1954. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Williamson, R. Page (Robert Page), 1833?-1854. Letters, 1852-1853. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Gerhard, Louisa 1816-1900. Papers 1807-1900. Winterthur Library
referencedIn Gunpowder Trade Association. Records, 1870-1903. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Henry Francis, 1880-1969,. The Winterthur Manuscripts 1588-1955. Hagley Museum & Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Aiken, James C. person
associatedWith Bauduy, Victorine du Pont, 1792-1861. person
correspondedWith Bayard, Thomas F. (Thomas Francis), 1828-1898. person
associatedWith Bidermann, Evelina du Pont, 1796-1863. person
associatedWith Bidermann family. family
correspondedWith Bliss, Robert Woods, 1875-1962 person
associatedWith Cameron, Simon, 1799-1889. person
associatedWith Clayton, John M. (John Middleton), 1796-1856. person
associatedWith Crowninshield, Louise du Pont, 1877-1958. person
associatedWith Dalmas, Joseph Charles, 1777-1859. person
associatedWith Davis, Henry Winter, 1817-1865. person
associatedWith Dix, John A. (John Adams), 1798-1879. person
associatedWith Drayton, Percival, 1812-1865. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Alexis I. (Alexis Irénée), 1816-1857. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Alfred Victor, 1798-1856. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Col. Henry Algernon, 1846-1926. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Eleuthère Irénée, 1771-1834. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Eugene, 1840-1902. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Evelina, 1840-1938. person
associatedWith Du Pont, H. A. (Henry Algernon), 1838-1926. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Henry Belin, 1898-1970. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Henry Francis, 1880-1969, person
associatedWith Du Pont-Kemble-De Forest families. family
associatedWith Du Pont, Lammot, 1831-1884. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Louisa Gerhard, 1816-1900. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Pierre S. (Pierre Samuel), 1870-1954, person
associatedWith Du Pont, Samuel Francis, 1803-1865. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Sophie (Dalmas), 1775-1828. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Sophie Madeleine, 1810-1888. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Victor, 1828-1888. person
associatedWith Du Pont, William, 1855-1928. person
associatedWith E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Eleutherian Mills (Greenville, Del. : Dwelling). corporateBody
associatedWith Elliott, Johnson & Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Fort Monroe. corporateBody
associatedWith Fort Monroe. corporateBody
associatedWith Foster, Victorine, 1849-1934. person
associatedWith Gentieu, Pierre A., 1842-1930. person
associatedWith Gerhard, Louisa 1816-1900. person
associatedWith Gilpin, Richard A. (Richard Arthington), 1812-1887. person
associatedWith Gunpowder Trade Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Hancock, Harold Bell, 1913-1987. person
associatedWith Hayes, John D. (John Daniel), 1902-1991. person
associatedWith Hayes, Rutherford Birchard, 1822-1893. person
associatedWith Kneeland, Furman L., 1824-1884. person
associatedWith Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834 person
associatedWith Leisenring, A. W. (Alexander W.), 1826-1893. person
associatedWith Lobdell Car Wheel Company. person
associatedWith Mount Airy College (Philadelphia, Pa.). corporateBody
associatedWith Mount Airy Military School. corporateBody
associatedWith Mount Airy Military School. corporateBody
associatedWith Parsons, William Barclay, 1859-1932. person
associatedWith Republican Party (Del.). corporateBody
associatedWith Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872. person
associatedWith Sherman, Gen. William Tecumseh, 1820-1891. person
associatedWith Shipley, Joseph, 1795-1867. person
associatedWith Smith, Eleuthera du Pont, 1806-1876. person
associatedWith Tatnall, Joseph, 1816-1895. person
associatedWith Totten, Joseph Gilbert, 1788-1864. person
associatedWith United States Military Academy. corporateBody
associatedWith Whig Party (Del.). corporateBody
associatedWith Williamson, R. Page (Robert Page), 1833?-1854. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Delaware
West Pont (N.Y.)
Delaware
Delaware
United States
Delaware
Subject
Agriculture
Agriculture
Aministration of estates
Armed Forces
Books
Business intelligence
Businessmen
Death
Diaries
Domestic relations
Explosives industry
Gunpowder industry
Military education
Military engineering
Photographic prints
Politics, Practical
Politics, Practical
Powder mills
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1812-08-08

Death 1889-08-08

Information

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SNAC ID: 12648277