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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 a member of the Republican Party who served as U. S. Senator from Delaware.
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 (1771–1834), 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, steel manufacturing,
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 and oversaw the acquisitions of more than one hundred competitors and was a key player in the formation of the holding company, E. I du Pont de Nemours Company of New Jersey. In 1907, 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 building of the Equitable Life Building in New York City, once the largest building in the city.
Political career
He 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, and twice serving as a U. S. Senator from Delaware. Du Pont's first Senate term was an appointment to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of U.S. Senator Josiah O. Wolcott. He served from July 26, 1921–November 21, 1922, but his attempt at re-election in 1922 failed, as he was defeated by Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.. However, in 1924 he defeated incumbent Republican U.S. Senator L. Heisler Ball for the Republican nomination for the other Delaware Senate seat, and defeated the Democratic nominee, James M. Tunnell, and served from March 4, 1925–December 9, 1928 when health problems caused him to resign. The later years of his life were marked by his implication in the Teapot Dome scandal, and by his being sued over Florida real estate deals.
Death and Legacy
Du Pont suffered from cancer of the larynx, died November 11, 1930 at Wilmington, Delaware and is buried at the du Pont Cemetery, Greenville.
Public offices
Elections are held the first week of November. U.S. Senators took office the first week of March for a term of six years.
Election results
References
- Pickett, Russell S. (2005). Delaware's Governors. Retrieved August 7, 2005.
- Kestenbaum, Lawrence (2005). The Political Graveyard. Retrieved August 7, 2005.
External links
- Biographical Dictionary of the U.S. Congress. Thomas Coleman du Pont.
- Urbana University Hall of Fame T. Coleman du Pont.
1863 births | 1930 deaths | du Pont family | United States Senators from Delaware
"T. Coleman du Pont"