Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Eleuthère Irénée du Pont
Eleuthère Irénée du Pont de Nemours (June 24, 1771 – October 31, 1834) was born in Paris, France and emigrated with his father Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours to the United States in 1799.
Like his father, he was initially a supporter of the French Revolution but both were among those who physically defended Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette from a mob besieging the Tuileries Palace in Paris during the insurrection of August 10, 1792. His father narrowly escaped the guillotine. After the family house was sacked by a mob in 1797 during the events of 18 Fructidor , the entire family left for the United States in 1799. They hoped (but failed) to found a model community of French exiles.
Du Pont brought an expertise in chemistry and gunpowder making. Because of the very poor quality of gunpowder being made in America, in 1802 he founded what would become one of the largest and most successful American corporations: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
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