Alfred I. du Pont: The Man and His Family

The condition of this used book was exactly as described.

Alfred Irénée DuPont was a successful industrialist, financier and philanthropist who lived during 1864-1935. In 1902 Alfred I. DuPont spearheaded a team effort together with two of his cousins (Thomas Coleman DuPont and Pierre Samuel DuPont II) to purchase the E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company (aka, “The DuPont Company”) from their family elders, thereby rescuing the company from being sold to rivals outside of the DuPont family. In the ensuing years Alfred and his two cousins helped lay the foundation for converting the family’s gunpowder and explosives business into a highly successful and diversified chemical empire.“Alfred I. DuPont: The Man and his Family”, by Joseph Frazier Wall explores the life and accomplishments of Alfred I. DuPont from various perspectives:• Employee of the DuPont Company --- Alfred I. DuPont was a black powder expert, inventor and mechanical genius who started at the bottom of the organization, worked his way up the chain-of- command, becoming a partner, a top executive, and a major shareholder.• Independent entrepreneur --- Alfred I. DuPont initiated and engaged in several independent business operations (e.g., banking, et al).• Politics --- Alfred I. DuPont made impactful political contributions (e.g., Delaware and Florida)• Personal Life – Alfred I. DuPont was a family man. He experienced health- and family-related challenges that impacted the direction of his life and career in significant ways. He was a talented musician who composed music and played piano, violin, base viol and flute; he also wrote poetry.• Philanthropist – Alfred I. DuPont founded The Nemours Foundation which was devoted the children’s’ health.Joseph Frazier Wall’s book titled, “Alfred I. DuPont: The Man and his Family” (which was published in 1990) references an earlier biography titled, “Alfred I. Du Pont: The Family Rebel”, by Marquis James (which was published in 1941 when many of Alfred I. DuPont’s contemporaries were still alive). As expected, there’s quite a bit of overlap between these two biographies, particularly the portions pertaining to Alfred I. DuPont’s life, per se. However, Wall’s provides the following additional perspectives that are not provided in the earlier biography by James:• Ancestors - Alfred I. DuPont’s life and accomplishments are explored in the full context of his ancestors and their achievements, starting with his great-great grandfather (economist and government official) Pierre Samuel du Pont’s immigration from France to America during the French Revolution; his great grandfather (chemist and industrialist) Éleuthère Irénée du Pont de Nemours’ founding of the gunpowder manufacturer, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company; as well as their descendents. As Wall clearly illustrates, the du Pont family has been one of America’s richest and most influential families in the areas of business, politics and philanthropy for many generations since the 19th century.• Philanthropic Goals (after death) - Wall’s book includes an epilogue that describes how Alfred I. DuPont’s philanthropic goals (which were specified in his will) were implemented and managed in the years and decades following his death.“Alfred I. Du Pont: The Man and his Family”, by Joseph Frazier Wall, is a fascinating, well-written, well-researched and educational biography. I recommend it.

I was willing to pay more for a new book, but what I received was book that was re-wrapped, probably to keep the binding from falling apart any further. The pages are stained and the whole think is practically unreadable because the binding is going to crumble momentarily. Very disappointed.

At first intimidating because of its length, you will find yourself fascinated by this bio! In fact, it's worth running the risk of dropping the heavy volume on yourself as you struggle to stay awake reading it late into the night like I did. The time period covered extends from the French Revolution through our Depression and all the genuinely remarkable DuPonts during those generations. Wall's research is impressive. Living in Jacksonville, FL, site of Epping Forest, I was especially interested in "A.I" and also Jessie Ball, his last wife. A.I.'s story does not really end with his death (in 1935 if memory serves), because Jessie carried on his wishes until her death in 1970.Oh, and it was the Port St. JOE Paper Company, not Jones (as mentioned by my fellow reviewer who was quite puzzling to me not much impressed with this book). I'm a voracious reader since age 4 (now 51) and biography is my favorite category of books - there are several bios on the DuPonts, but THIS ONE IS biography at its very best!

A readable, comprehensive, and interesting biography of Alfred DuPont. Although the title and focus of the book is on Alfred DuPont, there is a great deal of information about the entire family, its roots in France and move to the US, and important members of the family from many generations.

As a very frequent reader of biographies, this book was a pleasant surprise. Not knowing much about the DuPont family I was impressed with the character and integrity of Alfred DuPont, a man who was deeply committed to equality of all people. He was a true renaissance man who shared his fortune with people who struggled financially. The author captured the times of the era as well as the social, economic, and political values of early 20th century. The book easily deserves a five star rating!!!

I purchased this book because we used to live in Port St. Joe, FL and my husband worked for St. Regis Container Co. Alfred I. DuPont started the Paper Mill in Port St. Joe and I was interested in learning more about him. The book hasn't disappointed me.

it's a very comprensive bio of aldred duPont.now, his hospital is world renowned and has an endowment over 2 billionst joe paper is still selling and houses in florida - stock ticker is joenemours mansion is my personal favorite and since I live in delaware, I've seen all of the dupont mansions