This book looks at the powerful family behind the world's largest chemical company. The Du Ponts are one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the world. From their complex of buildings in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, they direct the workings of a vast network of interlocking companies that encompasses the world. They rule the state of Delaware as their private duchy, and they influence and control the lives of thousands of employees and millions of citizens. Here is the truly revealing story of this family, from the arrival in this country of Eleuthere Irenee du Pont, who was to found the firm that thought of itself as 'America's armorer.

The rise and fall of the DuPonts of Deleware.

Hidden in one of the smallest states of the Union, living in feudal splendor, is a singular family — proud, aloof, prolific —, which today controls a greater slice of American wealth than has ever before fallen into private hands. They are the Du Ponts of Delaware. The Du Ponts, who have long dominated Delaware, have only recently emerged into the larger arena of national affairs. In 1932, several prominent members of the clan, ardent wets, supported Franklin D. Roosevelt. This they consider their biggest blunder and are now vigorously fighting the New Deal through the American Liberty League. The present volume is the first full length portrait of this extraordinary family. “THIS is a lively excursion into the private annals of the mighty Du Pont family which has lived in splendour for five generations on its feudal barony in Delaware—industriously making gunpowder and profits. The inside story is revealed with wit and enthusiasm.”

On December 14, 1739, a second son was born to a Parisian watchmaker, named Samuel Dupont, and his wife. He was called Pierre Samuel, and he was to found one of the most famous dynasties in the world. Pierre Samuel came to the United States on New Year's Day, 1800, penniless, after surviving a harrowing voyage with his two sons. From those rather humble beginnings grew one of history's greatest manufacturing empires. Marc Duke has told the story of the du Pont dynasty through the eyes of the du Ponts themselves, and in doing so has written a brilliant and dramatic social history of both the company and the people who built it. Controversial, cantankerous, and very often holier-than-thou, the du Ponts were larger than life on the American landscape. -- From publisher's description.

"On January 26, 1996, Dave Schultz, Olympic gold medal winner and wrestling champion, was shot in the back by du Pont heir John E. du Pont at the family's famed Foxcatcher Farm estate in Pennsylvania. Following the murder, du Pont barricaded himself in his home for two days before he was finally captured. How did the so-called best friend of amateur wrestling come to commit such a horrifying, senseless murder? For the first time ever, Dave's brother, Mark--another Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler under du Pont's patronage--tells the full story. Fascinating, powerful, and deeply personal, Foxcatcher is a riveting account as told by the only person close enough to know the mind of the murderer." -- Page [4] cover.

Pierre Samuel du Pont de Numours (1738-1817) married Nichole Charlotte Marie Louise la Dée. They had two sons, 1767-1771. He married 2) Gabrielle Jose'phine de La Fite de Pelleport. The family emigrated from France and landed in America in January 1800. This work traces the history of the family as they monopolize the gun-powder and dynamite industry, move in to U.S. Rubber and General Motors, engage in politics, and build the world/s largest chemical company. The family is now composed of more that 1,500 indivduals.

Originally from France, the du Pont family settled in the Brandywine River Valley. Chateau Country is an intimate portrait of the houses built by this Delaware dynasty. Their first dwelling was a modest six-room house just steps from the gunpowder mills that made the du Ponts wealthy. One hundred years later, their largest house had 176 rooms and thirty-six servants on 2,300 acres of land. Since company founder E.I. du Pont built Eleutherian Mills in 1802, almost one hundred houses have been built nearby and occupied by his descendants. Many spectacular estate houses have been razed, but thirty-three du Pont family properties that still exist are explored and accompanied by anecdotes. Some, including Eleutherian Mills, Longwood, Gibraltar, Nemours, and Winterthur, are open to the public; others remain hidden behind stone walls. Chateau Country takes readers inside these houses and describes a way of life that has all but disappeared.