Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 30

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa.
Number of Pages: 1482

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ments, partial failures and all other obstacles were met and overcome with the same untir- ing diligence, the same cheerful and patient courage. In less than thirty years, he had made his powder factory the largest in the U'nited States, and a model of excellence for those times.

No less broad in his views and in his sym- pathies than' his illustrious father, Irenee DuPont interested himself, as an American citizen, in whatever pertained to the welfare and progress of his adopted country, and of the community in which he had his home. Hle was active and liberal in promoting local improvements and enterprises for the ad- vaneement of agriculture and the industrial arts. Ile was opposed to the institution of slavery, and deprecated its influence upon the white race; indeed, it was upon this ground that he declined the states of Maryland and Virginia as locations for his factory and his home, although the latter state was recom- mended to him by his father's friend, Presi- dent Jefferson. As a member of the American Colonization Society, he did what he could towards the solution of that most difficult problem of our republic. He served as a di- rector of the United States Bank. From boy- hood, he had always been easily and deeply affected by the sorrows and trials of others, and his private acts of beneficence equalled his public liberality. Considered in the light of Mr. DuPont's character and life, his illus- trious godfather's beautiful choice of names for him appears almost a prophecy.

Eluthere Irenee DuPont died in Phila- delphia, where he had gone, intending to make a brief stay, on October 31, 1834. His wife, the beautiful and devoted Sophie Madeleine Dalmas, was born July 22, 1775, and died November 27, 1828.

PIERRE SAMUEL DUPONT DE NE- MOURS, the founder of the DuPont family in the United States, was born in Paris, France, December 14, 1739.

Ilis attention was early turned to serious political and financial questions, and at the age of twenty-three, he had published some papers of national finance which attracted the notice of M. Quesnay, the celebrated econo- mist, who became the friend of the young author. An intimacy with the eminent

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statesman, Turgot, afterwards the able and courageous minister of finance of Louis XVI, the "best minister France ever had," was also brought about by a work written by M. Du- l'ont de Nemours, and published in 1764, he being then twenty-five years old. It had for its subject the export and import of cereals. The friendship that subsisted between these two congenial spirits remained unbroken un- til the death of Turgot, in 1782. For a few years, M. DuPont edited theJournal de l'agri- culture, du commerce et des finances and the Ephemerides du Citoyen, suppressed in 1772. Ilis labors in setting forth the principles of that school of far-seeing and upright politi- cal economists who were vainly endeavoring to avert the calamities impending over their country, and destined to overwhelm the ex- isting order before the close of the century, had not been unobserved by the crowned heads of Europe. Many of them testified their approbation by bestowing titles and de- corations upon him; and in 1772, Stanislaus Augustus, king of Poland, invited him to that country, and made him governor of his ne- phew, Prince Adam Czartoryski, and secre- tary of the Council of Public Education.

In 1774, at the beginning of the reign of the ill-fated Louis XVI, M. DuPont was re- called to France, to aid M. Turgot, now comptroller-general, in carrying out his plans of reform. But the measures proposed by them, many of which were originated by M. Du Pont, were far in advance of the times, an l were not carried into effect until after many years had passed, and many changes had taken place. Among the services of M. DuPont to the goverment was the devising of a scheme for better regulation of provincial affairs, which M. Turgot recommended to the king. But the orders which should have been the stay of France were its worst foes ;- the nobil- ity and the clergy united against the minister and his plans for reform, and he was dismiss- ed, DuPont of course sharing his fate, and being banished from Paris. Later, however, M. DuPont was again in the public service, and negotiated the treaty of Versailles, by which American independence was recogniz- ed, and a commercial treaty with Great Bri- tain. He was rewarded by being made Coun- cillor of State and Inspector General of Agri- culture and Commerce. He was secretary of the Notables in 1787, and drew up for Ca-

lonne his memorial upon abuses, laid before that body. Only the king's intervention saved him from banishment at the time of Calonne's dismissal. M. DuPont de Nemours was the constant upholder of a constitutional mon- archy, and as unswervingly, in both the States General and the Constituent Assembly, the opponent of radical revolutionary measures. Ilis courage was undaunted, and his constancy unvarying; yet he was one of the few who walked unharmed amid the secret and open perils of that volcanic epoch. He was a con- spicuous figure in the Constituent Assembly, being twice its president; and having opposed, in that body, the issue of paper currency pro- posed by the revolutionists, he was attacked by a mob at the breaking up of the session, and would have lost his life had he not been protected by the Garde Nationale. It is matter of general history that the measure was car- ried, and the assignats, as the notes were called, were issued; also, that the results de- monstrated fully the wisdom of M. DuPont's opposition.

On the memorable tenth of August, 1792, DuPont de Nemours and his youngest son, Eleuthere Irenee DuPont, went armed to the Tuileries, to defend the royal family from the anticipated attack upon the palace. Only the courage and adroitness of the younger man saved their lives on that day of horrors. Both were, however, apprehended, after having con- cealed themselves for several weeks, and con- signed to the prison of La Force. During & part of that time, the astronomer Lalande had given the elder DuPont shelter in the national observatory; and it is said that while in hid- ing there, he wrote his Philosophie de l'univers; a significant indication of his sur- passing equanimity. While, with his devoted son, he was awaiting his turn for execution in gloomy La Force, Robespierre filled up the measure of his cruelties, and himself fell a victim to the guillotine, his death freeing those whom he had condemned, and among them the DuPonts. Upon the liberation of the veteran statesman followed the renewal of his struggles against the Jacobins, the party re- sponsible for the horrible excesses of the Re- volution. The French people were now sur- feited with carnage, and the reactionary party obtained a majority in the elections of 1797, when M. DuPont was made president of the Council of Ancients. The Republicans, how-

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ever broke up the councils by an armed force, destroyed M. DuPont's house and property; he narrowly escaped being transported to Cayenne.

In 1799, M. DuPont de Nemours emigrated with his family to the United States. Here he was received with warm regard and distin- guished consideration, and cemented lasting "friendships with some of the most eminent statesmen of that day. He returned to his native country in 1802. The First Consul of- fered him several appointments, which he declined, preferring the more tranquil exer- cise of his talents in the field of authorship. But his influence with Napoleon was used for the promotion of the Louisiana purchase. At the request of President Jefferson, he for- mulated a plan for national education, which was given to the world in 1812, and after- wards partly adopted in France. In 1814, after the fall of Napoleon, M. DuPont was inade secretary of the provisional government; upon the restoration of the Bourbons, he was appointed councillor of state. When the banished emperor returned from Elba, M. DuPont for the last time left his country, re- joining his family in America. He died near Wilmington, August 6, 1817. His wife, Ni- cole Charlotte Marie Louise le Dee de Ren- court, a woman of rare qualities of mind and character, and an exemplary wife and mother, had died in 1784.

As a writer, M. DuPont was endowed with A fertile intellect and tireless industry. Ilis papers, pamphlets and more extensive works on political, scientific and literary topies can- not be enumerated. Some of those not pre- viously mentioned in this article are: Physiocratie, an analysis of Quesnay's system (1768); Le commerce de la Compagnie des Indes (1769); a partial translation of the Or- lando Furioso (1781); a memoir of Turgot (1782); a treatise on the Bank of France (1806); Memoires sur differ- ents objets d'histoire natureile (1807); De l'origine et des progres d'une science nouvelle (1767); De l'administration des chemins (1767); Objections et réponses sur le com- merce des grains et des farines (1796); Obser- rations sur les effets de la liberte du commerce des grains (1770) ; Table synoptique des prin- cipes de l'economie politique (1775); Idees sur les secours a donner aux paurres malades

dun une grande ville (1786); Analyse histori- que de la législation des grains depuis 1692 (1789).

CHARLES IRENEE DUPONT, eldest son of Victor and Gabrielle Josephine La- fitte (de Pelleport) Du Pont, was born at Charleston, S. C., March 29, 1797.

Ilis grandfather was the celebrated politi- cal economist and statesman, Pierre Samuel DuPont de Nemours, the friend of Quesnay and Turgot, and the author of many works, more or less comprehensive, on political, com- mercial and scientific subjects. AAfter suffer- ing severely for his moderation during the stormy scenes of the French Revolution, and escaping the guillotine only by the death of Robespierre, that distinguished man emi- grated with his family to America in 1799. A few years earlier his son, Victor DuPont, had through his influence been sent as French Consul to the port of Charleston, S. C., and was residing there in that capacity when Charles Irenee DuPont was born. He after- wards removed to the State of Delaware, set- thing near the Brandywine Creek.

In that locality Charles I. DuPont was dur- ing most of his life engaged in manufactur- ing. He also purchased various tracts of land, and devoted much of his attention to their improvement and cultivation. Mr. DuPont was animated by a zealous publie spirit, and made effectual exertions to promote the in- terests of the State, by increasing its railroad facilities. None, perhaps, among the origina- tors of the Delaware R. R., were more active than he in obtaining subscriptions to its stock; and it is mainly through his influence as state senator that in 1855 an appropriation from the state treasury was seenred, in aid of its construction. Being a director of the P. W. & B. R. R., he persuaded that company to take hold of the enterprise. He afterwards served a., director of the road in which he had been so heartily and effectively interested. He was .for many years a director of the Farmers' Bank of Wilmington. Mr. DuPont fre- quently represented New Castle county in both branches of the State Legislature; he was elected to the Senate first in 1841. He was a member of the Whig party, and, while fim in his adherence to its principles, dis- played so liberal and courteous a spirit as to win respect and esteem, and much personal

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friendship, in the ranks of both parties. This regard was deepened and rendered permanent by his honorable character, the dignity and consistency of his life, and his unvarying benevolence. Ile lived to see his adopted country pass through the throes of rebellion, and in that time of trial manifested his love for the Union not only by professions of devo- tion, but by generous contributions in aid of the government.

Charles Irenee DuPont was married, Oeto- ber 5, 1824, at New Castle, Del., to Doreas Montgomery, daughter of the Hon. Nicholas Van Dyke, of Delaware. This lady died in 1838, and Mr. Du Pont afterwards married Ann, daughter of Hon. Henry M. Ridgely, of Dover, Del., who, with two children, survived him. Three children by his first marriage also survived him. Charles I. DuPont died re- gretted by all his fellow-citizens, January 31, 1869. For some years before his demise, he had lived retired from active business, though still preserving an undiminished interest in the affairs of the community and of the coun- try.

SAMUEL FRANCIS DUPONT, Rear Admiral U. S. Navy, son of Victor and Ga- brielle Josephine Lafitte (de Pelleport) Du- Pont, was born at Bergen Point, N. J., Sep- tember 27, 1803.

A warm friendship subsisted between his grandfather, Pierre Samuel DuPont de Ne- mours, the eminent statesman and writer, the founder of the DuPont family in America, and Presidents Jefferson and Madison. From the latter, the coming admiral received, at the age of twelve, his first naval appointment, which conferred upon him the berth of mid- shipman; it was dated December 19, 1815. This he gladly accepted, declining for its sake an appointment to West Point, which was tendered to him about the same time. Ex- President Jefferson wrote on this occasion to M. Du Pont de Nemours, in a very friendly strain, a letter which after events proved to be almost prophetic, as it expressed Mr. Jef- ferson's hope that the youth might become a high admiral, and perform a distinguished part in the defense of his country.

As the aid of Commodore Stewart, young Du Pont made his first cruise aboard the Franklin, a ship of seventy-four guns, in the Mediterranean; joining the Erie before his

return to the United States. He spent at this time three years on the sea. His second cruise took him again to the Mediterranean, on the frigate Constitution; his third, on the frigate Congress, to the West Indies and the coast of Brazil. On his fourth cruise, made on the Mediterranean station, in the North Carolina, ship of seventy-four guns, Commodore John Rodgers commanding, he was promoted to the rank of sailing master. In April, 1826, he received a commission as lieutenant, after which he served three years on the Ontario, sloop of war; then, in 1835, during the Florida War, on the Warren and the Constitution, in the Gulf of Mexico; and from 1838 to 1841, on the United States ship Ohio, in the Mediterranean. In 1842 lic was promoted to the rank of commander, and sailed in the following year for China, in command of the brig Perry, but becom- ing very ill, was obliged to return home from Rio Jeneiro. IIe was placed in command of the frigate Congress, flag-ship of Commo- dore Stockton's fleet, in 1845, was transferred to the sloop of war Cyane, and made for himself a record of brilliant and faithful ser- vice in the Mexican War. Having been pro- moted in 1855 to the rank of captain, he went to China and Japan in 1857, in command of the Minnesota, the steam frigate which con- veyed William B. Reed, Esq., United States Minister to those countries, charged with the business of drawing up important treaties.

But the most distinguished services of this naval veteran were those rendered in connec- tion with the war of the Rebellion. He was placed in command of the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1860, relieving his first commander, the famous Commodore Stewart. In 1861, before open hostilities had begun, Captain DuPont, on his own responsibility, sent an armed steamer with forces to the Chesapeake Bay, to protect the transit of troops to Annap- olis. In June of that year, he was made presi- dent of a board at Washington, D. C., charged with the business of examining the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and furnishing a report upon which the plans for naval operations during the war should be based. In October, he sailed from New York as flag-officer commanding the South Atlantic blockading squadron, which took part in the capture of the forts and harbor of Port Royal, November 7, 1861. This bril-

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liant success was followed by many equally effective operations, both on the coast and upon inland waters, by which the blockade was maintained with increasing stringency. Captain DuPont's commission as rear ad- miral was tendered to him July 16, 1862. In the attack upon Charleston, April 7, 1863, the land forces were not able to co-operate; it ac- cordingly failed, but not until the after most heroic efforts had been made by Admiral Du- Pont's fleet and the iron-clads. For its de- fence, the city had between two and three hundred guns; the naval attack was made with only thirty-two, and persisted in until half of them were silenced. Admiral DuPont then withdrew from the harbor and sent the iron- clads, according to orders received from Washington, to the Gulf of Mexico. Although not approved by the Navy Department at the time, his judgment was coincided in by the able commanders of the iron-clads, and was fully confirmed by later events. Admiral Du- Pont was recalled from his command June 3, and relieved July 3, 1863. The success of Captain John Rodgers, sent by the Admiral to intercept the Atlanta, added a happy inci- dent to the termination of his brilliant career.

Various services, which if less illustrious, were not less important than those rendered on the seas, occupied the intervals between . them. They included the labors performed in numerous commissions, boards and courts. One of these was a commission under the au- thority of Congress to investigate the light- bouse system of the United States, with a view of introducing improvements. A per- manent Light House Board was then estab- lished, of which he was a member, and which regulated the lighting of the sea-coast on the present admirable plan. In 1844, Captain, then Commander DuPont, was appointed by Secretary Bancroft as one of a committee to take into consideration the formation of a Naval Academy, and to formulate a plan for its organization. This was subsequently ef- fected at Annapolis, and he was frequently called to act as one of the board of examiners.

Admiral DuPont, in the prime of his man- hood, professed his allegiance to the religion of Christ, and became a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. During the in- tervals of his more active naval services, he participated in the business of the church, at- tending its State and National conventions,

and giving cordial encouragement and help to its enterprises. Especially did he use his in- fluence for the promotion of foreign missions, Ins experience of many lands unvisited by the gospel having convinced him of their import- ance. The knowledge thus acquired, as well as his deep interest in the work, led to his be- ing chosen as president of the American Church Missionary Society. Admiral Du- Pont's health had been impaired at the time ct his cruise in Chinese waters, and after his return from the South Atlantic, it failed rapidly. He was advised to make a tour of Europe, but could not be persuaded to leave his country in time of war. Having gone to pay a short visit in Philadelphia, he died in that city, June 23, 1865. Admiral DuPont's life of little more than six decades was not one of remarkable length, counting by years; but reckoning by deeds, his was a grand longevi- iy. It was a life long enough to leave bright, indellible traces upon the pages of our coun- try's history, and to lay up for succeeding generations a legacy of example, made illus- trious by steadfast endeavor, patriotism and sincere, manly piety.

JOHN P. DONAHOE, Wilmington, Del., son of John and Bridget (Daley) Donahoe, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, August 12, 1841.

Mr. Donahoe's parents were natives of County Tyrone, and were of sturdy ancestry. 'The Donahoe family is one of the oldest in Ireland, and the Daley heritage is one of mili- tary and ecclesiastical distinction. John Donahoe, father of John P. Donahoe, came to America in 1841, to prepare here a home for his family. The following year his wife and son bade farewell to their Irish village and sailed for this country. Their voyage across the Atlantic was a long one, and tem- pestuous, and brought them only poignant grief, for on their arrival at Wilmington, Del., they were met with the sad intelligence that the husband and father they had come so- far to rejoin had died in Philadelphia. There was a cholera scourge in the land, to which John Donahoe and two brothers had been vic- tims. Mrs. Donahoe bravely took up the. struggle alone, selected Wilmington as her home, and there remained until her death on ; January 1, 1896.

John P. Donahoe entered St. Joseph's:

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parochial school on the banks of the Brandy- wine, and received a good education. At an early age he was apprenticed to a cooper, learned the trade and worked at it until the breaking out of the Civil War. He was quick to respond to the call of President Lincoln for volunteer troops, and on April 17, 1861, enlisted in Company A, First regiment, Dela- ware Volunteers. Three months later, upon the expiration of the regiment's term ot en- listment, he was honorably discharged, and on October 14, 1861, joined the United States Marine Corps, in which he served until hon- orally discharged four years later.

Jolm P. Donahoe's military record is high- ly creditable. He served with Admiral Far- ragut in all his engagements on board the United States steamer Westfield until Jan- uary 1, 1863. On that date the boat was blown up in the harbor of Galveston, Texas. Mr. Donahue was transferred to the Clifton, and remained as one of its marines until Scotember 9, 1863, when it was sunk and captured at Sabine Pass, Tex. All who sur- vived were made prisoners by the Confeder- ates, and Mr. Donahoe was confined at HIamp- stead, Tex., in a parole camp, at Red River Bottom, La., and at Camp Ford, near Tyler, Tex., for twenty months and eleven days. He made two attempts at escape, but was recap- tured and compelled to undergo greater hard- ships than before. He suffered indescribable torture. Frequently he was forced to make long marches barefoot, when the bruises and euts on his swollen feet were so terribly ag- gravated as almost to prevent his dragging himself along. During his long service, he participated in thirty-five general engage- ments and many skirmishes. From all the evidence he has been able to obtain, he is the only survivor of the command to which he first belonged.

Mr. Donahoe was the central figure in a , Convention of 1896-97. He has been a mem- number of memorable incidents of the war. At the capture of the Clifton he was second captain of a 30-pound Parrott gun. When the Stars and Stripes were hauled down in token of surrender, he refused to capitulate and continued firing the gun as long as he could get some one to load it. In fact, he only left the gun when forced away by his superior officers. Even then he was not vet ready to yield the ship and its supplies, and, seizing a carbine, he broke every bottle of

medicine in the dispensary stores that they might not fall into the enemy's hands. The Clifton was sunk, with thirty-five shots be- neath its water line and was on fire three times. But one gun, the 30-pound Parrott, could be fired at the end of the engagement. Previous to the loss of the Clifton Mr. Donahoe had effectively operated the same Parrott gun against the Confederate gunboat Mary T. This gunboat was not clad in steel, as are the fighting vessels of to-day, but to protect its machinery and ammunition cot- ton bales were used. On May 1, 1863, during an engagement, Mr. Donahoe threw a shell into the vessel. The explosion which resulted killed nine and wounded seventeen of its men. Then the gunboat struck her flag, and the Clifton had apparently an easy victory. Some daring and skilled gunner on the Mary T., however, sent a last shot at the Union ves- sel. The shell lodged in the Clifton's steam drum and disabled her machinery. The Mary T. ran up its flag again and steamed eway. Mr. Donahoe quickly trained his Par- rott gun upon the boat and carried away one- third of its port side wheel, but, although badly crippled, the vessel escaped. This oc- curred at Butte la Rose, on the Atchafalaya River and Alligator Bayou, La. The Clifton had engaged a fort on one side and a cotton- elad gunboat on the other, all within a dis- tance of three hundred yards.

On May 20, 1865, Mr. Donahoe was re- leased from his Confederate prison and sent 1( Brooklyn Barracks, N. Y. There he com- pleted his term of enlistment, and on October 14, 1865, was honorably discharged.

The public services of Mr. Donahoe in civil life have been as meritorious as his military career. He was elected a Delaware State Senator in 1889, speaker of the Senate in 1891, and a member of the Constitutional ber of the Democratic State Central Commit- tee and was a member of the New Castle county executive committee until May, 1890. On November 6, 1894, he was nominated by the Democrats for Congress, but Delaware was carried by the Republicans, and Mr. Donahoe was defeated. Mr. Donahoe is a member of a number of military societies and other organizations. He was mustered into the Union Veteran Legion, Encampment No. 2, of Philadelphia, in 1886, and is a charter

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 30

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa. Number of Pages: 1482

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa.
Number of Pages: 1482