Pierre S. Dupont This essay was assigned for analysis of the life and contributions of influential leaders to business and leadership thought.

Pierre S. DuPont was born near Wilmington, Delaware in 1870. Twenty years later, he graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a chemistry degree and began working in the DuPont family business. He became an assistant superintendent at Brandywine Mills, and two years later, Pierre and his cousin Francis G. DuPont developed and patented the first American-made smokeless gunpowder at the Carney's Point plant in New Jersey. During the 1890's, Pierre worked at the …

…was chairman of GM until 1929, and when he left, GM was the largest corporation in the world. He served as Chairman of DuPont's board of directors until 1940. After his retirement, Pierre showed great concern for the public welfare by helping finance school construction and pushed for higher education standards. He served on the Delaware State Board of Education, and spent a considerable amount of time tending to his extensive gardens at his estate, Longwood Gardens.