Henry A. du Pont

Henry A. du Pont
United States Senator
from Delaware
In office
June 13, 1906 – March 3, 1917
Preceded byL. Heisler Ball[1]
Succeeded byJosiah O. Wolcott
Personal details
Born
Henry Algernon du Pont

(1838-07-30)July 30, 1838
Greenville, Delaware
DiedDecember 31, 1926(1926-12-31) (aged 88)
Greenville, Delaware
Resting placeDu Pont de Nemours Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMary Pauline Foster
ChildrenHenry Francis du Pont
Louise Evelina du Pont Crowninshield
Residence(s)Greenville, Delaware, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Pennsylvania
United States Military Academy
OccupationSoldier, politician, railroad executive
AwardsMedal of Honor
Military service
Allegiance United States (Union)
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1861–1875
Rank Brevet lieutenant colonel
Unit5th Regiment, U.S. Artillery
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Henry Algernon du Pont (July 30, 1838 – December 31, 1926) was an American military officer, businessman, and politician from Delaware. A member of the du Pont family, he graduated first in his class from West Point shortly after the beginning of the American Civil War and served in the U.S. Army, earning the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Cedar Creek in October 1864.

After retiring from the army in 1875, he was president of the Wilmington and Northern Railroad Company for 20 years, until 1899. An active member of the Republican Party, he was elected by the state legislature as a U.S. Senator from Delaware, serving most of two terms (June 13, 1906, to March 4, 1917).

du Pont was also an elected member of the American Philosophical Society.[2]

  1. ^ This seat had been vacant since March 4, 1905.
  2. ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved 2024-03-28.