In July 1802, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company was established on the banks of the Brandywine River in Delaware. This gun powder manufacturing facility was founded by Éleuthère Irénée du Pont (E.I. du Pont), who fled the French Revolution and was invited to the fledgling United States by President Thomas Jefferson. Dupont and Company was instrumental in supplying the new nation with gun powder to defend it’s borders.

Jefferson was focused on establishing the young nation’s foundations, famously writing his “wall of separation between church and state” letter to the Danbury Baptists on January 1. , and on March 16 signing the Military Peace Establishment Act, which formalized the U.S. Army, and promoted science. Jefferson was also deeply concerned about French control of Louisiana, prompting secret efforts to secure New Orleans, which led to the Louisiana Purchase. 

In the last century, the DuPont Company has developed numerous polymers including: Vespel, neoprene, nylon, Corian, Teflon, Mylar, Kevlar, Zemdrain, M5 fiber, Nomex, Tyvek, Sorona, Corfam, and Lycra. DuPont developed Freon (chlorofluorocarbons) for the refrigerant industry, and later more environmentally friendly refrigerants. Today, DuPont is one of the world’s largest chemical companies.