Henry Francis du Pont
Encyclopedia
Henry Francis du Pont Harvard 1903, married 1916 Ruth Wales (1889–1967) was an American
horticulturist, an expert on early American furniture and decorative arts – particularly of the Federal furniture
, and a member of the prominent du Pont family
.
Born at Winterthur
, Delaware
, he was the only son of Henry Algernon du Pont
and Mary Pauline Foster to live to maturity. He studied horticulture at the Bussey Institution at Harvard University
, graduating in 1903. In 1916, he married Ruth Wales (1889–1967) and they had 2 children, Pauline Louise du Pont (1918–2007) and Ruth Ellen du Pont (b. 1922).
A collector of Americana
, Henry Francis du Pont expanded his family estate from the 30 room house he inherited to the 175 room mansion he established in 1951 as the
Winterthur Museum & Country Estate. The museum is generally recognized as the premier collection of American Decorative Arts in the world and includes many period rooms, some rescued from houses before their demolition. Before he developed his antique collection, however, Mr. du Pont was one of the premier breeders of Holstein-Freisien cattle in America. The Winterthur herd of dairy cattle was well known in farming and agricultural circles from the 1920s up until du Pont's death in 1969. Following his death, the herd was sold and emphasis was centered on the presentation and preservation of du Pont's antique collection and the beautiful plantings of the estate.
Mr. du Pont was asked by Jacqueline Kennedy to help oversee the renovation of the White House
in 1961-63, using his contacts and expertise to acquire donations of fine art and furniture, at times clashing with Kennedy's interior designer Stéphane Boudin
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
horticulturist, an expert on early American furniture and decorative arts – particularly of the Federal furniture
Federal furniture
Federal furniture refers to American furniture produced in the federal style, which lasted from approximately 1789 to 1823. Notable furniture makers who worked in this style included Duncan Phyfe and Charles-Honoré Lannuier...
, and a member of the prominent du Pont family
Du Pont family
The Du Pont family is an American family descended from Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours . The son of a Paris watchmaker and a member of a Burgundian noble family, he and his sons, Victor Marie du Pont and Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, emigrated to the United States in 1800 and used the resources of...
.
Born at Winterthur
Winterthur, Delaware
Winterthur is an unincorporated community in northern New Castle County, Delaware, United States. It lies at the intersection of Delaware Routes 92 and 100, north of the city of Wilmington, the county seat of New Castle County. Its elevation is 269 feet...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, he was the only son of Henry Algernon du Pont
Henry A. du Pont
Henry Algernon du Pont , known as "Colonel Henry", was an American soldier and politician from Winterthur, near Greenville, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a veteran of the American Civil War, and a member of the Republican Party, who served two terms as U.S...
and Mary Pauline Foster to live to maturity. He studied horticulture at the Bussey Institution at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, graduating in 1903. In 1916, he married Ruth Wales (1889–1967) and they had 2 children, Pauline Louise du Pont (1918–2007) and Ruth Ellen du Pont (b. 1922).
A collector of Americana
Americana
Americana refers to artifacts, or a collection of artifacts, related to the history, geography, folklore and cultural heritage of the United States. Many kinds of material fall within the definition of Americana: paintings, prints and drawings; license plates or entire vehicles, household objects,...
, Henry Francis du Pont expanded his family estate from the 30 room house he inherited to the 175 room mansion he established in 1951 as the
Winterthur Museum & Country Estate. The museum is generally recognized as the premier collection of American Decorative Arts in the world and includes many period rooms, some rescued from houses before their demolition. Before he developed his antique collection, however, Mr. du Pont was one of the premier breeders of Holstein-Freisien cattle in America. The Winterthur herd of dairy cattle was well known in farming and agricultural circles from the 1920s up until du Pont's death in 1969. Following his death, the herd was sold and emphasis was centered on the presentation and preservation of du Pont's antique collection and the beautiful plantings of the estate.
Mr. du Pont was asked by Jacqueline Kennedy to help oversee the renovation of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
in 1961-63, using his contacts and expertise to acquire donations of fine art and furniture, at times clashing with Kennedy's interior designer Stéphane Boudin
Stéphane Boudin
Stéphane Boudin was a French interior designer and a president of Maison Jansen, the influential Paris-based interior decorating firm.Boudin is best known for being asked by U.S...
.