Lammot du Pont
Encyclopedia
Lammot du Pont I was a key member of the Du Pont family
in the mid-nineteenth century. His father was Alfred V. du Pont
, the eldest son and successor of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont
, the founder of DuPont
. He obtained a chemistry degree from the University of Pennsylvania
and entered into the family business. Lammot patented B blasting powder, also known as soda powder in 1857. His invention used an inexpensive Peru
vian and Chile
an sodium nitrate
, which he had discovered in 1858(?) could be used to manufacture black powder more cheaply than potassium nitrate
, and made DuPont a major force in the blasting powder industry. During the American Civil War, he was commissioned captain of Company B, 5th Delaware Infantry Regiment that served at Fort Delaware
on Pea Patch Island. Later, he founded the Repauno Chemical Company and helped DuPont
enter the high explosives business. He died in an nitroglycerin explosion in March 1884.
is named in his honor. It houses laboratories of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the College of Marine Studies.
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...
in the mid-nineteenth century. His father was Alfred V. du Pont
Alfred V. du Pont
Alfred Victor Philadelphe du Pont was an American chemist and industrialist, who was the eldest son and successor of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, the founder of the E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company....
, the eldest son and successor of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont
Eleuthère Irénée du Pont
Éleuthère Irénée du Pont de Nemours , known as Irénée du Pont, or E.I. du Pont, was a French-born Huguenot chemist and industrialist who immigrated to the United States in 1799 and founded the gunpowder manufacturer, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company...
, the founder of DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
. He obtained a chemistry degree from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and entered into the family business. Lammot patented B blasting powder, also known as soda powder in 1857. His invention used an inexpensive Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian and Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an sodium nitrate
Sodium nitrate
Sodium nitrate is the chemical compound with the formula NaNO3. This salt, also known as Chile saltpeter or Peru saltpeter to distinguish it from ordinary saltpeter, potassium nitrate, is a white solid which is very soluble in water...
, which he had discovered in 1858(?) could be used to manufacture black powder more cheaply than potassium nitrate
Potassium nitrate
Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula KNO3. It is an ionic salt of potassium ions K+ and nitrate ions NO3−.It occurs as a mineral niter and is a natural solid source of nitrogen. Its common names include saltpetre , from medieval Latin sal petræ: "stone salt" or possibly "Salt...
, and made DuPont a major force in the blasting powder industry. During the American Civil War, he was commissioned captain of Company B, 5th Delaware Infantry Regiment that served at Fort Delaware
Fort Delaware
Fort Delaware is a harbor defense facility, designed by Chief Engineer Joseph Gilbert Totten, and located on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River. During the American Civil War, the Union used Fort Delaware as a prison for Confederate prisoners of war, political prisoners, federal convicts, and...
on Pea Patch Island. Later, he founded the Repauno Chemical Company and helped DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
enter the high explosives business. He died in an nitroglycerin explosion in March 1884.
Legacy
A building at the University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
is named in his honor. It houses laboratories of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the College of Marine Studies.
Children
Lammot du Pont married Mary Belin (1839–1913) and had the following children:- Isabella d'Andelot du Pont (1866–1871)
- Louisa d'Andelot du Pont (January 25, 1868 – 1926), married Charles Copeland (March 30, 1867 – February 3, 1944) on February 16, 1904, child Lammot du Pont CopelandLammot du Pont CopelandLammot du Pont Copeland son of Charles Copeland and Louisa d'Andelot du Pont . They were married February 16, 1904 at St. Amour in Wilmington, Delaware...
(May 19, 1905 – July 1, 1983) - Pierre S. du PontPierre S. du PontPierre Samuel du Pont was president of the E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company from 1915 to 1919, and served on its Board of Directors until 1940...
(1870–1954), married Alice Belin, no children - Sophie Madeleine du Pont (1871–1894)
- Henry Belin du Pont (1873–1902)
- William Kemble du Pont (1874–1907)
- Irénée du PontIrénée du PontIrénée du Pont was a U.S. businessman, former president of the DuPont company and head of the Du Pont trust.-Biography:A descendant of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, he graduated from Andover in 1894 and MIT in 1897, then worked for Fenn’s Manufacturing Contracting Company for a number of years before...
(1876–1963) - Mary Alletta Belin du Pont (1878–1938), married William Winder Laird, children
- Lammot du Pont IILammot du Pont IILammot du Pont II was an American businessman who was the head of the du Pont family's E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company for 22 years....
(1880–1952) - Isabella Mathieu du Pont (1882–1946), married Hugh Rodney Sharp (1880–1968), children
- Margaretta Lammot du Pont (May 12, 1884 – May 1973), married Robert Ruliph Morgan CarpenterR. R. M. CarpenterRobert Ruliph Morgan Carpenter was an American executive and member of the board of directors of DuPont.-Biography:...
, children