Victor Marie du Pont

Background

Victor Marie du Pont was born on October 1, 1767 in Paris, France. He was the elder son of Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours and Nicole Charlotte Marie Louise Le Dée.

Education

Du Pont was educated under private tutors at his father’s country place, “Bois des Fossés, ” Chevannes, and at sixteen entered the bureau of commerce over which his father presided, his work of collecting trade statistics taking him over all parts of France.

Career

Du Pont was for a time attached to the bureau of agriculture, but abandoned the line of promotion at home in 1787 to become attaché to the first French legation in the United States.

He returned to France two years later to become aide-de-camp to Lafayette when the general was commanding the national guard.

In 1791 he was back in the United States as second secretary of legation, but the following year was ordered to France to obtain fuller instructions from the Committee of Public Safety. Genêt had been dispatched to this country as minister by the time Du Pont arrived in France, and the latter was without an appointment. To escape being drafted for the army, which would have been distasteful to a conservative, he joined the constabulary as a gendarme, but pretended illness and was allowed to resign.

In 1795 he came to America for the third time, now as first secretary of legation.

In July 1796 he was stationed at Charleston as acting French consul for the Carolinas and Georgia, and in 1797 became consul. His work in this post received official commendation, so that his father was able, when the whole legation was recalled incident to the inauguration of the Directory (1798), to have Victor appointed consul-general in the United States. On reaching Philadelphia, however, Du Pont discovered that President Adams would not grant him an exequatur because of current controversy with France. Relinquishing his office, Du Pont, his wife, and two children hastily took ship for Bordeaux, where he found his father, his brother Irence, and others in the family connection planning to sail for America to make a new start after the disasters of the Revolution. Victor allowed himself to be persuaded to return to the United States with them, especially since his father had committed him to becoming a director in the land and trading company which was projected to rebuild the family fortunes in the new world. After a delayed start, and a long and trying voyage, all the Du Ponts arrived at Newport, Rhode Island, January 1, 1800. While they were getting their bearings, they took up residence in a pleasant house at Bergen Point, New Jearsey, opposite Staten Island. Victor, in order to be naturalized and thus escape the higher import duties charged on goods consigned to aliens, bought a house and shop in Alexandria, Virginia.

In 1801 he went to France and vainly tried to persuade the government to establish, with the Du Pont firm as agent, a packet line to the United States. Shortly after his return to America his father sailed for Europe, chiefly for business reasons. Victor formed a new firm, V du Pont de Nemours & Company, of New York, nominally independent of the parent enterprise, which was to remain under the father with headquarters in Paris. Victor believed he might become financial agent of the French government in the United States if he could succeed with a commission business, and in the first year he did well despite inadequacy of capital. He sent cargoes to France and did a good business with the French West Indies, but in August 1805 he failed, largely because the French government refused to honor Santo Domingo drafts on the paymaster of the navy to the amount of francs.

In 1806 he joined Philip Church in a land development project at Angelica, Genesee County, New York, paying $3, 000 front his wife’s little fortune for 500 acres. This venture was not successful, and when Victor left Genesee three years later the land was assigned to his creditors. He joined his brother Irénée at the powder works of the latter on the Brandywine River near Wilmington, Delaware, where he became active manager of woolen-mills erected by his brother and Bauduy, the latter’s partner. This undertaking was not more successful than others of Victor’s; but, gentle and easily influenced, he enjoyed and needed association with his more vigorous brother.

Achievements

• Victor Marie du Pont received recognition as a director of the Bank of the United States and a member of the Delaware legislature.

Personality

Du Pont was over six feet three inches, handsome, and of charming manners.

Connections

Du Pont married Gabrielle Josephine de la Fite de Pelleport at Chevannes on April 9, 1794. He had two children.

Father:

Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours

Mother:

Nicole Charlotte Marie Louise Le Dée

Spouse:

Gabrielle Josephine de la Fite de Pelleport