Governor Pierre Samuel Du Pont

PIERRE SAMUEL “PETE” DU PONT IV was born in Wilmington, Delaware, the son of Pierre Samuel du Pont, III and Jane Holcomb du Pont. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy, N.H., Princeton University, and Harvard Law School. He served as a U.S. Naval Reserve Officer as part of the Seabees from 1957-1960. He was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1964 and commenced practice in Wilmington. DuPont was employed by E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Inc. from 1963-1970. He served as a member of the Delaware and National Republican Finance Committees and became a state representative were he served from 1968-1971. He was elected to the U.S. Representatives, and served from 1971-1977. He was elected as Governor of Delaware in November 1976 and reelected to a second term in 1980. He served on the Presidential Advisory Committee on Federalism and on the President’s Task Force on Private Sector Intiatives. DuPont founded Jobs for Graduates, a job-counseling program for high school students. He was a candidate for the Republican nomination for President in 1988. He passed away on May 8, 2021.