E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company

Founded by Éleuthère Irénée du Pont in 1802, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company started in Delaware as a gunpowder business. Early on, it became a major force in explosives manufacturing, and its growth was closely tied to the industrial rise of the United States.

In the 20th century, DuPont expanded far beyond explosives and built a reputation for large-scale industrial research. The company became known for developing or commercializing a long list of materials and chemicals, including neoprene, nylon, Teflon, Mylar, Kevlar, Nomex, Lycra, and Tyvek.

Its long history also includes major shifts in focus, ownership, and public identity as it moved from a family enterprise to a modern global corporation. Today, DuPont is best remembered not as a single inventor, but as a company whose laboratories helped shape everyday life, from clothing and packaging to electronics, construction, and safety gear.