Chapter 25: Pierre du Pont

Pierre du Pont

       Pierre Samuel du Pont was born on January 15, 1870 in Wilmington, Delaware. He graduated from MIT in 1890 and later became an assistant superintendent at Eleutherian Mills. He and his cousin, Francis Gurney du Pont developed the first American smokeless powder in 1892 at the Carney's Point plant in New Jersey. 

       In the 1980's, he worked at, and partly owned a steel firm called the Johnson Street Rail Company, in Johnstown Pennsylvania. He is now known for being an American entrepreneur as president of the E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and serving on its board of directors until 1940. He also managed General Motors and became GM's president. Plus, he served on the Delaware State Board of Education and donated millions to DE public schools. He died April 4, 1954 at age 84.