Samuel Francis du Pont

[[Image:Samuel francis du pont.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Samuel Francis du Pont by Daniel Huntington

Early life and naval career

Du Pont was born in Bergen Point (now Bayonne), New Jersey, the fourth child and second son to survive of Victor Marie du Pont de Nemours (the son of Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours) and Gabrielle Joséphine de la Fite de Pelleport. His uncle was Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, the founder of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, which was started as a gunpowder factory and today is a multinational chemical corporation. Du Pont spent his childhood across the river from his uncle's estate, "Eleutherian Mills", just north of Wilmington, Delaware. He was enrolled in Mt. Airy Academy in Germantown, Pennsylvania, at age 9. However, his father was unable to fund his education due to his failing wool mill, and he was encouraged to instead enlist in the Navy. His family's close connections with Thomas Jefferson helped secure him an appointment as a midshipman by President James Madison at the age of 12, and he first set sail aboard Franklin out of Delaware in December of 1815.

Related Topics:
Bayonne - New Jersey - Victor Marie du Pont de Nemours - Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours - Gabrielle Joséphine de la Fite de Pelleport - Eleuthère Irénée du Pont - E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company - Wilmington, Delaware - Mt. Airy Academy - Germantown, Pennsylvania - Thomas Jefferson - Midshipman - President - James Madison - ''Franklin'' - Delaware - 1815

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As there was no naval academy at the time, du Pont learned mathematics and navigation at sea, and was an accomplished navigator by the time he took his next assignment aboard Constitution in 1821. He then served aboard Congress in the West Indies and off the coast of Brazil. Though still not yet a commissioned officer, he was promoted to sailing master during his service aboard North Carolina in 1825, which sailed on a mission to dispaly American influence and power in the Mediterranean. Soon after his promotion to lieutenant in 1826, he was ordered aboard Porpoise, returned home for two years after his father's death in 1827, and then served aboard Ontario in 1829. Despite the short period in which he had been a officer by this time, du Pont had begun to openly criticize many of his senior officers, whom he believed were incompetent and had only received their commands through political influence.

Related Topics:
Mathematics - Navigation - ''Constitution'' - 1821 - '' Congress'' - West Indies - Brazil - Sailing master - ''North Carolina'' - 1825 - Mediterranean - 1826 - '' Porpoise'' - 1827 - ''Ontario'' - 1829

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After returning from Ontario in June of 1833, du Pont married Sophie Madeleine du Pont, his first cousin as the daughter of Eleuthère Irénée. As he never kept an officer's journal, his voluminous correspondence to Sophie served as the main documentation of his operations and observations throughout the rest of his naval career. From 1835 until 1838, he was the executive officer of Constellation and Warren, commanding both the latter and Grampus in the Gulf of Mexico. In 1838, he joined Ohio in the Mediterranean until 1841. The following year he was promoted to commander and set sail for China aboard Perry, but was forced to return home and give up his command due to severe illness. He returned to service in 1845 as commander of Congress, reaching California by the time the Mexican War had begun.

Related Topics:
1833 - 1835 - 1838 - Executive officer - ''Constellation'' - ''Warren'' - ''Grampus'' - Gulf of Mexico - '' Ohio'' - 1841 - Commander - China - ''Perry'' - 1845 - California

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