DU PONT, dii-potte, Henry, American manufacturer: b. Eleutherian Mills, near Wil mington, Del., 8 Aug. 1812; d. 8 Aug. 1889. He was the second son of Eleuthere Irenee Du Pont de Nemours (q.v.). He secured his early edu cation at Constant's Mount Airy Seminary, Germantown, Pa.; in 1829 he entered the mili tary academy at West Point, from which he was graduated in 1833. In the following year, however, in deference to his father's wishes that he should return to Delaware to master every detail of the powder business and so be well equipped to assist him, he resigned his commission and thereafter gave his attention to the powder industry. In 1850 he became head of E. I. Du, Pont de Nemours and Com pany, and by his executive ability soon extended the operations of the works until the industry had assumed enormous. proportions. The war with Mexico called for large quantities of powder from the mills and when peace came general enterprises began to demand still larger quantities in industrial operations. The com pany also supplied the English army during the Crimean War, and during the Civil War in the United States sold enormous quantities to the National government. Politically he was asso ciated with the Whigs, but when the Civil War broke out he heartily supported Lincoln in all his measures to prevent the dissolution of the Union. He became one of the leaders of the
Delaware Republicans and was a presidential elector in the campaigns of 1868, 1876, 1880, 1884 and He was appointed major-general of the Delaware forces in 1861 by Governor Bur ton, and immediately upon assuming office ordered every man in the military service of the State to take an oath of allegiance to the United States or surrender his arms. There were many people in the State who were un decided as to which cause to espouse and Du Pont's order was calculated to compel the people to declare themselves, but influences adverse to Du Pont succeeded in inducing Governor Burton to suspend the order. Du Pont thereupon applied to Gen. John A. Dix, commanding the Federal troops at Baltimore, and the latter sent a body of troops to Delaware to maintain the supremacy of the general government in that State. Like his ancestors Henry Du Pont had a great attachment for rural life and agri cultural pursuits, and was probably the largest individual landowner in the State. He was widely known for his many benefactions, took a lively interest in local affairs and was ever to be found in favor of public improvement.