T. Coleman du Pont
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| T. Coleman du Pont | |
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| March 4, 1925 – December 9, 1928 | |
| Preceded by | L. Heisler Ball |
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| Succeeded by | Daniel O. Hastings |
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| July 7, 1921 – November 6, 1922 | |
| Preceded by | Josiah O. Wolcott |
| Succeeded by | Thomas F. Bayard, Jr. |
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| Born | December 11, 1863 Louisville, Kentucky |
| Died | November 11, 1930 Wilmington, Delaware |
| Residence | Wilmington, Delaware |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Alice (Elsie) du Pont |
| Profession | engineer, corporate executive |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Thomas Coleman du Pont (December 11, 1863 – November 11, 1930) was an American engineer and politician, from Greenville, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was President of the of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, and a member of the Republican Party who served parts of two terms as U. S. Senator from Delaware. He was known by his middle name.
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[edit] Early Life and Family
Du Pont was born December 11, 1863 at Louisville, Kentucky. He was a cousin of U.S. Senator Henry A. du Pont and great grandson of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, the founder of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Du Pont attended preparatory school at Urbana University, Urbana, Ohio and earned an engineering degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He started his career in the family's coal mines, the Central Coal & Iron Company, and soon pursued opportunities in street railways. In 1894, He began working as the general manager of the Johnson Street Rail Company in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
With his cousins, Alfred I. du Pont and Pierre S. du Pont, Coleman bought out the family's explosives business in Delaware. He was president from 1902 until 1915, during which time he oversaw the acquisitions of more than one hundred competitors. He was a key player in the formation of the holding company, E. I du Pont de Nemours Company of New Jersey. In 1907, the DuPont Company was sued for antitrust violations and Coleman later sold off his stake of the business in 1914. He once owned the Waldorf-Astoria and McAlpin hotels in New York City and Willard in Washington, D.C.. He was responsible for the building of the Equitable Life Building in New York City, once the largest building in the city.
[edit] Political career
Du Pont retired from business activities in 1915 and became involved in Republican Party politics, as a member of the Republican National Committee from 1908 until 1930. It was largely under his leadership that the Union Republicans and Regular Republicans came back together and built the modern Delaware Republican Party.
Du Pont was appointed to the U.S. Senate on July 7, 1921, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of U.S. Senator Josiah O. Wolcott. During this term, he served with the Republican majority in the 67th Congress. However, he lost his bid to complete the term in a special election on November 7, 1922. On the same day he also lost his bid for the full term to follow, in both instances losing to Democrat Thomas F. Bayard, Jr., a Wilmington, Delaware lawyer. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1924, defeating the incumbent Republican U.S. Senator L. Heisler Ball for the nomination, and going on to defeat Democrat James M. Tunnell, a Georgetown, Delaware lawyer. During this term, he served with the Republican majority in the 69th and 70th Congress, until health problems caused him to resign.
In all, Du Pont served two separate terms, one from July 7, 1921 until November 21, 1922, during the administrations of U.S. President Warren G. Harding, and the other from March 4, 1925 until December 9, 1928, during the administration of U.S. President Calvin Coolidge.
The later years of his life were marked by his implication in the Teapot Dome scandal, and by lawsuits over various Florida real estate deals.
[edit] Death and Legacy
Du Pont suffered from cancer of the larynx, and died November 11, 1930 at Wilmington, Delaware. He is buried at the du Pont Cemetery, Greenville.
[edit] Public offices
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. U.S. Senators took office March 4th and have six year terms.
| Office | Type | Location | Elected | Term began | Term ended | notes | notes |
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| U.S. Senator | Legislative | Washington | July 7, 1921 | November 6, 1922 | class 1 | ||
| U.S. Senator | Legislative | Washington | 1924 | March 4, 1925 | December 9, 1928 | class 2 | resigned |
[edit] Election results
| Year | Office | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
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| 1922 | U.S. Senator | T. Coleman du Pont | Republican | 36,894 | 50% | Thomas F. Bayard, Jr. | Democratic | 36,954 | 50% | ||
| 1922 | U.S. Senator | T. Coleman du Pont | Republican | 36,979 | 49% | Thomas F. Bayard, Jr. | Democratic | 37,304 | 50% | ||
| 1924 | U.S. Senator | T. Coleman du Pont | Republican | 52,731 | 59% | James M. Tunnell | Democratic | 36,085 | 41% |
[edit] References
- Carter, Richard B. (2001). Clearing New Ground, The Life of John G. Townsend, Jr.. Wilmington, Delaware: The Delaware Heritage Press. ISBN 0-924117-20-6.
- Dutton, William S. (1942). Du Pont One Hundred and Forty Years. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
- Munroe, John A. (1993). History of Delaware. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-493-5.
[edit] Images
- Urbana University [1]
[edit] External links
- Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress [2]
- Delaware’s Senators [3]
- The Political Graveyard [4]
- Find a Grave [5]
- His Gift to Kentucky [6]
[edit] Places with more information
- Historical Society of Delaware [7] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
- University of Delaware Library [8] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965
- Hagley Museum and Library [9] Barley Mill Road, Wilmington, Delaware (302) 658-2400
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