Encyclopedia · Private Biography Draft
Pete du Pont
American businessman and Delaware governor (1935–2021)
Personal details
- Full name
- Pierre Samuel du Pont IV
- Born
- January 22, 1935 · Wilmington, Delaware
- Died
- May 8, 2021
- Parents
- Pierre Samuel du Pont III; Jane Holcomb du Pont
- Education
- Phillips Exeter Academy; Princeton University, engineering degree; Harvard Law School, law degree
- Spouse
- Elise Ravenel Wood (married 1957)
- Children
- Elise, Pierre V, Benjamin and Éleuthère “Thère”
- Military
- U.S. Naval Reserve officer, Seabees (1957–1960)
- Political affiliation
- Republican
- Public office
- U.S. representative (1971–1977); Delaware governor (1977–1985)
Pierre Samuel “Pete” du Pont IV (1935–2021) was an American lawyer, business executive and Republican politician who represented Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as governor of Delaware from 1977 to 1985.
Family, education and military service
Du Pont was born in Wilmington, Delaware, the son of Pierre Samuel du Pont III and Jane Holcomb du Pont. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy, Princeton University and Harvard Law School.
He served as a U.S. Naval Reserve officer in the Seabees from 1957 to 1960. He married Elise Ravenel Wood in 1957. They had four children: Elise, Pierre, Benjamin and Éleuthère (“Thère”).
Business, law and public office
After law school he worked for E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company from 1963 to 1970 and practiced law in Delaware. He served in the Delaware House of Representatives from 1968 to 1971, in the U.S. House from 1971 to 1977, and as governor from 1977 to 1985.
During his governorship Delaware enacted financial-services legislation that became significant to the state’s banking sector. He helped establish Jobs for Graduates, a school-to-work counseling program, and served on presidential advisory bodies concerned with federalism and private-sector initiatives.
1988 presidential campaign
Du Pont sought the Republican presidential nomination in 1988. He withdrew after the Iowa and New Hampshire contests in February, during the same primary race in which George H. W. Bush became the party’s nominee.
References
Research compiled through November 12, 2026. Sources and historical roles are dated where known.