Victor Marie du Pont
Encyclopedia
Victor Marie du Pont de Nemours (October 1, 1767 – January 30, 1827) was a French
diplomat, and after emigrating to the United States
, an American
businessman. He was the founder of the Du Pont, Bauday & Co., wool manufacturers, brother of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont
, the founder of the E.I. duPont de Nemours Company and a member of the Delaware General Assembly
.
and Nicole Charlotte Marie Louise le Dée. He married Gabrielle Joséphine de la Fite de Pelleport in 1794 and had four children, Amélie-Élisabeth, Charles Irénée
, Samuel Francis
, and Julia Sophie.
King Louis XVI's Bureau of Commerce. There he had opportunities to travel around Europe
and meet visiting friends of his father's. In 1788 he began four years of work with the French
minister to the United States
in both New York and Philadelphia
. Returning to Paris in 1793, he married and soon went back to the United States
, this time as French
Consul at Charleston
, South Carolina
. He remained there until 1797 when he was named French
Consul-General at Philadelphia
, but being refused recognition by President
John Adams
, he returned to France
.
For the next two years Victor du Pont assisted his father in his preparation for the whole family emigrating to the United States
. They finally sailed on the American Eagle, arriving in Newport
, Rhode Island
, January 1, 1800. From there the father, two brothers, and wives and children, went to live at Goodstay, a house purchased for them in Bergen Point
, New Jersey
. Many ideas for future du Pont businesses were conceived in the coming year at Goodstay, including the one the that had his brother, Irénée
, beginning a gunpowder business. Victor and Irénée
, returned to France
for a year in 1801 to seek investors for that and various other prospects. He returned to New York, established a trading company
, Victor du Pont de Nemours & Co., and acted as an agent for Louis Pichon, the French
Consul-General and chargé d'affairs, provisioning French
troops seeking to quell the rebellion then going on in Santo Domingo
. This firm went into bankruptcy in 1808, as his many advances, including those to the French
government, went unreimbursed. Victor next tried his hand at farming and merchandising on the Genessee Valley frontier of western New York
.
In 1811 he moved with his family to Delaware
and established residence at Louviers on the Brandywine Creek, across from the Eleutherian Mills of his brother. He established a woolen mill to manufacture cotton cloth. Irénée
's partner, Pierre Bauday and son-law-law, Ferdinand Bauday, joined the business in 1813, and it became known as Du Pont, Bauday & Co. Soon after arriving in Delaware
, Victor du Pont was elected to one of the New Castle County
seats in the State House
for the 1815, 1816, and 1817 sessions and later was elected to the State Senate
for the 1821, 1822, and 1823 sessions.
on January 30, 1827, and is buried in the Du Pont family cemetery at Winterthur, near Greenville
, Delaware
. Victor du Pont was a man "whose friends were everywhere." His son Charles I. du Pont
took over management of the wool manufacturing business upon his death, and his other son Samuel Francis du Pont
was a Rear Admiral
in the U.S. Navy
during the Civil War
.
for more information about his descendants and cousins.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
diplomat, and after emigrating to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman. He was the founder of the Du Pont, Bauday & Co., wool manufacturers, brother 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 the E.I. duPont de Nemours Company and a member of the Delaware General Assembly
Delaware General Assembly
The Delaware General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the Delaware Senate with 21 Senators and the Delaware House of Representatives with 41 Representatives...
.
Early life and family
Victor du Pont was born October 1, 1767 in Paris, France, son of Pierre Samuel du Pont de NemoursPierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours
Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours was a French nobleman, writer, economist, and government official, who was the father of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, the founder of E.I...
and Nicole Charlotte Marie Louise le Dée. He married Gabrielle Joséphine de la Fite de Pelleport in 1794 and had four children, Amélie-Élisabeth, Charles Irénée
Charles I. du Pont
Charles Irénée du Pont was an American manufacturer and politician. He was the owner of the Du Pont, Bauday & Co. wool manufacturers, a nephew of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, the founder of the E.I...
, Samuel Francis
Samuel Francis du Pont
Samuel Francis Du Pont was an American naval officer who achieved the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, and a member of the prominent Du Pont family; he was the only member of his generation to use a capital D...
, and Julia Sophie.
Professional career
After 1784 Du Pont worked with his father in FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
King Louis XVI's Bureau of Commerce. There he had opportunities to travel around Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and meet visiting friends of his father's. In 1788 he began four years of work with the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
minister to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in both New York and Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. Returning to Paris in 1793, he married and soon went back to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, this time as French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Consul at Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. He remained there until 1797 when he was named French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Consul-General at Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, but being refused recognition by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
, he returned to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
For the next two years Victor du Pont assisted his father in his preparation for the whole family emigrating to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They finally sailed on the American Eagle, arriving in Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, January 1, 1800. From there the father, two brothers, and wives and children, went to live at Goodstay, a house purchased for them in Bergen Point
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Many ideas for future du Pont businesses were conceived in the coming year at Goodstay, including the one the that had his brother, Irénée
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...
, beginning a gunpowder business. Victor and Irénée
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...
, returned to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for a year in 1801 to seek investors for that and various other prospects. He returned to New York, established a trading company
Trading company
Trading companies are businesses working with different kinds of products which are sold for consumer, business or government purposes. Trading companies buy a specialized range of products, maintain a stock or a shop, and deliver products to customers....
, Victor du Pont de Nemours & Co., and acted as an agent for Louis Pichon, the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Consul-General and chargé d'affairs, provisioning French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
troops seeking to quell the rebellion then going on in Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
. This firm went into bankruptcy in 1808, as his many advances, including those to the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
government, went unreimbursed. Victor next tried his hand at farming and merchandising on the Genessee Valley frontier of western New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
In 1811 he moved with his family to 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...
and established residence at Louviers on the Brandywine Creek, across from the Eleutherian Mills of his brother. He established a woolen mill to manufacture cotton cloth. Irénée
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...
's partner, Pierre Bauday and son-law-law, Ferdinand Bauday, joined the business in 1813, and it became known as Du Pont, Bauday & Co. Soon after arriving in 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...
, Victor du Pont was elected to one of the New Castle County
New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
seats in the State House
Delaware House of Representatives
The Delaware House of Representatives is the lower house of the Delaware General Assembly; the state legislature of the U.S. State of Delaware. It is composed of 41 Representatives from an equal amount of constituencies, each of whom is elected to a two year term. The Delaware General Assembly...
for the 1815, 1816, and 1817 sessions and later was elected to the State Senate
Delaware Senate
The Delaware Senate is the upper house of the Delaware General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Delaware. It is composed of 21 Senators, each of whom is elected to a four-year term, except when reapportionment occurs, at which time Senators may be elected to a two-year term....
for the 1821, 1822, and 1823 sessions.
Death and legacy
Victor du Pont died in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
on January 30, 1827, and is buried in the Du Pont family cemetery at Winterthur, near Greenville
Greenville, Delaware
Greenville is a census-designated place in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 2,326 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Greenville is located at ....
, 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...
. Victor du Pont was a man "whose friends were everywhere." His son Charles I. du Pont
Charles I. du Pont
Charles Irénée du Pont was an American manufacturer and politician. He was the owner of the Du Pont, Bauday & Co. wool manufacturers, a nephew of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, the founder of the E.I...
took over management of the wool manufacturing business upon his death, and his other son Samuel Francis du Pont
Samuel Francis du Pont
Samuel Francis Du Pont was an American naval officer who achieved the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, and a member of the prominent Du Pont family; he was the only member of his generation to use a capital D...
was a Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
See also
See the du Pont familyDu 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...
for more information about his descendants and cousins.
Places with more information
- Delaware Historical SocietyDelaware Historical SocietyThe Delaware Historical Society began in 1864 as an effort to preserve documents from the Civil War. Since then, it has expanded into a state-wide historical institution with several venues and a major museum in Wilmington and the historic Read House & Gardens in New Castle.The society...
website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, DelawareWilmington, DelawareWilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
19801; (302)Area code 302302 is the area code for the state of Delaware in the United States. It is one of the original area codes established in 1947.-External links:*...
655-7161 - Hagley Museum and LibraryHagley Museum and LibraryThe Hagley Museum and Library is a nonprofit educational institution located in Wilmington, Delaware. Hagley Museum and Library collects, preserves and interprets the history of American enterprise.- Hagley Library :...
website Barley Mill Road, Wilmington, Delaware (302) 658-2400. - University of DelawareUniversity of DelawareThe 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...
Library website, 181 South College Avenue, Newark, DelawareNewark, DelawareNewark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
19717; (302) 831-2965