1861-1865
The American Civil War
DuPont became one of the chief suppliers of black powder to the United States military during the Civil War.
Camp Brandywine was established to protect the DuPont gunpowder factory in Wilmington, Delaware.
Image: Layout of Camp Brandywine.
1861
Saltpetre Imported From England
Lammot du Pont traveled to London to negotiate the purchase of saltpetre for the United States government. These talks were critical to the Union war effort.
Image: Lammot du Pont (1831-1884).
1866
Selling Wartime Surpluses
The U.S. government sold Civil War surplus gunpowder from 1866 to 1874. The powder drove down gunpowder prices, hurting DuPont and other domestic gunpowder manufacturers.
Image: DuPont gunpowder label from the Civil War era.
1868
Alfred Nobel Patent's Dynamite
Alfred Nobel patented dynamite in the United States. The DuPont Company would later buy the rights to manufacture dynamite in the U.S.
Image: Alfred Nobel's patent for dynamite.
1872
Gunpowder Trade Association Formed
Henry and Lammot du Pont (pictured) helped form the Gunpowder Trade Association. This group's purpose was to regulate America's explosives market.
The association elected Lammot du Pont as its first president. He forcefully argued the need for the GTA.
Image: Lammot du Pont photograph (1831-1884).
1876
Extensive Purchases and Expansion
The DuPont Company purchased controlling interest in gunpowder factories throughout the United States.
Image: The California Powder Works, Santa Cruz County, California. DuPont bought a controlling interest in this factory in 1876.
1880
Start of Repauno Chemical Company
Lammot du Pont started the Repauno Chemical Company at Thompson's Point, New Jersey to manufacture dynamite. He died in an explosion there in 1884.
Image: Dynamite mixing machine at Repauno Works, 1884.
1889
Death of Henry du Pont
Henry du Pont died on August 8, 1889. The company selected Eugene du Pont (pictured) to become the new head of the firm.
Image: Eugene du Pont photograph.