Hagley Museum near Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Éleuthère Irénée du Pont
Éleuthère Irénée ("E. I.") du Pont (1771-1834) did not have the political connections of his father and brother. But he had an education and technical training that would later serve the family in unexpected ways.
At age 16, E. I. studied under famed chemist Antoine Lavoisier ("luh-WOZ-ee-ay"). E. I. learned the process for making gunpowder and other explosives from Lavoisier and, soon after, took a position at the French government's powder works at Essonnes. There, E. I. learned how to manage a large scale powder-making operation.
E. I. began working with his father, Pierre Samuel, and his printing and publishing business in the 1790s. As the French REvolution intensified, the du Ponts' connections to King Louis XVI and royalists, like Lavoisier, brought them into conflict with the more radical leaders of the Revolution. Their moderate political stances led Pierre Samuel's imprisonment in 1794.
Three years later, father and son were imprisoned while their printing business was destroyed.
Erected by Hagley Museum and Library.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications
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Location. 39° 46.653′ N, 75° 34.45′ W. Marker is near Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Hagley Museum. It can be reached from Hagley Creek Road north of Blacksmith Hill Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Hagley Creek Rd, Wilmington DE 19807, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Philadelphia. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic and on the Delmarva Peninsula. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Leaving France / Arriving in America (here, next to this marker); Victor du Pont (here, next to this marker); Starting the DuPont Company (here, next to this marker); The Hagley Story / The du Pont Story
Additional keywords. French Revolution
Credits. This page was last revised on April 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 29, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 134 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 29, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
