DU PONT, Samuel Francis, American naval officer: b. Bergen Point, N. J., 27 Sept. 1803; d. Philadelphia, 23 June 1865. He was the third son of Victor Marie Du Pont de Ne mours. His parents removed to Louviers, Del., soon after his birth. In 1815 President Madi son appointed him a midshipman in the navy. His first service was a voyage to the Mediter ranean on the Franklin. In 1821-22 he served aboard the Constitution in the Mediterranean, and was next attached to the Congress for a cruise in the West Indies and off the coast of Brazil. He passed through the various grades reaching that of commander in 1842, when he was sent to China in the Perry, but ill health forced him to leave his ship at Rio Janeiro and return home. In 1845 he assisted in perfecting the organization and administration of the newly-founded Naval Academy at Annapolis. In the same year he was transferred to the Congress on the Pacific station under Commo dore Stockton. On the outbeak of the Mexican War Du Pont was given command of the Cyane, and took a prominent part in all the operations on the California coast, clearing the Gulf of California of hostile vessels, and taking San Diego, La Paz and Mazatlan. He was ordered home in 1848, became a member of the Light House Board, and in 1855 was made captain and member of the naval retiring board. In 1857
he visited China, Japan, India and Arabia, and in 1860 was placed in command of the Phila delphia navy yard. In September 1861 he was appointed flag officer and ordered to the com mand of the South Atlantic blockading squad ron. In conjunction with Sherman's land forces he took Port Royal in November and estab lished 14 blockading stations along the coast. He was next ordered to attack Charleston, S. C., which he did on 7 April 1863, but was repulsed with considerable loss. This was the last im portant engagement that occurred while Du Pont had command of the fleet, as he was re lieved from command 5 July 1863. Admiral Du Pont was also favorably known as the au thor of various papers on professional subjects, which were those on corporal punish ment in the navy and on the use of floating batteries for coast defense. In 1882 Congress provided that 'the circle at the intersection of Massachusetts and Connecticut Avenues)) in the city of Washington should be called Du Pont Circle, and subsequently $20,500 was appro priated for the erection there of a bronze statue of the admiral which was modeled by Launt Thompson and dedicated 20 Dec. 1884.