Lammot du Pont I (April 13, 1831 – March 29, 1884) was a chemist and a key member of the

du Pont family The du Pont family () or Du Pont family is a prominent American family descended from Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours (1739–1817). It has been one of the richest families in the United States since the mid-19th century, when it founded its f ...

and its company in the mid-19th century.

Early life

Du Pont was born in 1831 in New Castle County, Delaware, the son of Margaretta Elizabeth (Lammot) and Alfred V. du Pont, and grandson of French-born Éleuthère Irénée du Pont de Nemours, the founder of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Lammot was born at Nemours, the family home built in 1824 and named in honor of the full family name. Lammot studied chemistry at the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...

, and obtained a bachelor of arts degree in 1849.

Career

He entered into the family business, and used his chemistry knowledge to patent B

blasting powder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Th ...

in 1857. His invention used an inexpensive Peruvian and Chilean sodium nitrate, which he had discovered in 1858 could be used to manufacture black powder more cheaply than

potassium nitrate Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . This alkali metal nitrate salt is also known as Indian saltpetre (large deposits of which were historically mined in India). It is an ionic salt of potassium ions K+ and nitr ...

. In the Civil War, du Pont enlisted in 1862 and was commissioned captain of Company B, 5th Delaware Volunteer Infantry that served at

Fort Delaware Fort Delaware is a former harbor defense facility, designed by chief engineer Joseph Gilbert Totten and located on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River.Dobbs, Kelli W., et al. During the American Civil War, the Union used Fort Delaware as ...

on Pea Patch Island. He was elected as a member of the

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and communit ...

in 1872. In 1880, du Pont convinced his family that a new explosive, dynamite, would eventually make gunpowder obsolete. His vision eventually made the company a major force in the blasting powder industry. Later, he founded the Repauno Chemical Company and helped his family's company enter the high explosives business.

Personal life

Lammot du Pont married Mary Belin (1839–1913) and had 11 children: *Isabella d'Andelot du Pont (1866–1871) *Louisa d'Andelot du Pont (1868–1926), married Charles Copeland (1867–1944), one son: **

Lammot du Pont Copeland Lammot du Pont Copeland (May 19, 1905 – July 1, 1983) was an American businessman. Early life Copeland was the great-great-grandson of DuPont's founder, Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, and he served as the company's 11th president from 1962 to ...

(1905–1983) * Pierre S. du Pont (1870–1954), married Alice Belin, no children *Sophie Madeleine du Pont (1871–1894) *Henry Belin du Pont (1873–1902), married Eleuthera du Pont Bradford, one son: ** Henry Belin du Pont, Jr. (1898-1970) *William Kemble du Pont (1874–1907), married twice; four children *

Irénée du Pont Irénée du Pont I (December 21, 1876 – December 19, 1963) was an American businessman, president of the DuPont company and head of the Du Pont trust. Early life Irénée du Pont I was born on December 21, 1876, in New Castle, Delaware, the so ...

(1876–1963) married Irene Sophie du Pont, had 10 children: *Mary Alletta Belin du Pont (1878–1938), married William Winder Laird, one son *

Lammot du Pont II Lammot du Pont II (October 12, 1880 – July 24, 1952) 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. Early life He was born on October 12, 1880, in Wilmington, Delaware. H ...

(1880–1952) *Isabella Mathieu du Pont (1882–1946), married Hugh Rodney Sharp (1880–1968), two children *Margaretta Lammot du Pont (1884-1973), married Robert Ruliph Morgan Carpenter ** Louisa d'Andelot Carpenter (1907-1976) ** Robert Ruliph Morgan Carpenter, Jr. (1915-1990) He died in a nitroglycerin explosion on March 29, 1884, in

Gibbstown, New Jersey Gibbstown is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Greenwich Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the CDP's population was 3,739.

Legacy

The Lammot du Pont Laboratory at the

University of Delaware The University of Delaware (colloquially UD or Delaware) is a public land-grant research university located in Newark, Delaware. UD is the largest university in Delaware. It offers three associate's programs, 148 bachelor's programs, 121 ma ...

is named in his honor. The -building houses laboratories of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the College of Marine Studies.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Du Pont, Lammot I 1831 births 1884 deaths People of Delaware in the American Civil War Lammot I du Pont Lammot I du Pont University of Pennsylvania alumni Accidental deaths in New Jersey Scientists from Delaware People from New Castle, Delaware 19th-century American scientists Union Army officers

Early life

Career

Personal life

Legacy

Further reading

References