In 1802, E.I. DuPont established a factory that developed into the worldwide firm Du Pont. The DuPont family made their early riches selling what?

The foundation of the DuPont chemical empire was built on a simple observation during a hunting trip. Éleuthère Irénée du Pont, a French immigrant and skilled chemist who had studied with the famed Antoine Lavoisier, was dismayed by the poor quality and high price of American-made gunpowder. Recognizing a significant business opportunity, he decided to apply his superior knowledge of chemistry and manufacturing to create a better product.

In 1802, he established his first mills on the Brandywine Creek near Wilmington, Delaware. The high quality of the powder he produced quickly earned his company a stellar reputation. The young United States government was a major customer, eager for a reliable domestic supplier for its military and for civilian projects like clearing land and blasting for canals and roads.

The company's fortunes soared, particularly during the War of 1812, when it became the U.S. military's largest supplier of this crucial explosive. The immense profits from the sale of black powder during the nation's early years provided the capital that established the DuPont family's wealth and allowed the firm to grow into the global chemical giant it would eventually become.