Du Pont, Eleuthère Irénée, 1771-1834

Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, the son of Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours, was born in Paris on June 24, 1771. In 1787, he was accepted as a student in the Regis des Poudres, a government agency for the manufacture of gunpowder which was directed by Antoine Lavoisier. In 1800 Eleuthère Irénée du Pont emigrated to the United States and began investigating sites for a black powder manufactory. After consulting with Thomas Jefferson he established E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. on the bank of the Brandywine River, just north of Wilmington, Del. In the spring of 1803 he settled his family at Eleutherian Mills and wrote to Jefferson seeking government patronage for his new powder factory. During the 1810s du Pont was active in the Society of the State of Delaware for the Promotion of American Manufacturers, where he lobbied Congress for high tariffs. In 1822 he was named a director of the Bank of the United States. Eleuthère Irénée du Pont died in Philadelphia on October 31, 1834.

From the description of Papers, 1782-1838. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 86134169

From the description of Ledger, 1814-1818. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122516448

Eleuthère Iréẹ́e du Pont was born in Paris in 1771, the younger son of Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours. Early in 1788, his father's close friend, the chemist Antoine Lavoisier, who had been appointed chief of the royal powder works, took Irénée into his laboratory at Essonnes as an apprentice. During the French Revolution when Lavoisier was removed from the Essonnes powder works, du Pont was forced to resign his position. In 1799 he emigrated to the United States and three years later established a black powder manufactory on the banks of the Brandywine River, just north of Wilmington, Delaware. Within a decade E.I. du Pont de Nemours had become one of the largest gunpowder producers in the United States.

From the description of Notes on powder making, gunpowder mills and saltpeter, 1788. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122397121

Eleuthère Irénée du Pont (1771-1834), son of Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours, was born in Paris. He was educated at the Collège Royal and in 1789 began an apprenticeship in the manufacture of black powder. He worked in the government powder mills at Essonnes under the supervision of Antoine Lavoisier. In 1800 he emigrated to the United States, where he, his father and brother, Victor du Pont, established the commission house Du Pont de Nemours, Père et Fils & Cie. In 1802 he established a black powder manufactory on the banks of the Brandywine River, just north of Wilmington, Del., and dissolved the New York commission house, which was only marginally profitable.

By the War of 1812 E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., which had adopted European technology to the American environment, had become one of the largest powder producers in the United States. E.I. du Pont and his sons were active in Whig Party politics, as they were supporters of high protective tariff. On this and other issues he strongly identified with Henry Clay. In 1822 E.I. du Pont was named Director of the Bank of the United States, a position he held until shortly before his death.

From the description of Papers, 1771-1922. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122516430