573:. Her father's will had said that if she were childless, the property would be inherited by her brother and his children. Her will included a provision for his children to sell or give their interests in the property to the National Trust or forfeit their share of a separate $ 3.1 million trust. In addition, she provided $ 10 million to the National Trust to buy the property and to establish an endowment. As her brother had died in 1965, his five children inherited Montpelier. Three sold or gave their interests to the National Trust. Although two nephews sued the National Trust in an effort to break the will, they finally sold their interests in 1984.
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374:, a tennis champion. He built both an indoor and outdoor tennis court at Bellevue for the benefit of his wife. They had a son, William du Pont III, born July 22, 1952. That same year, du Pont was made chairman of the board at the Delaware Trust Company, retaining his position as president as well. Osborne and du Pont divorced in 1964. Their son William du Pont III also was active with thoroughbreds and later owned Pillar Stud in
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track and its adjacent combination viewing stand/water tower; a breeding shed; a hunter barn; a show horse barn; a loading barn with ramps, for transporting horses to competition; and a grassy, half-mile chute that connected the training track with the race horse, hunter and show horse barns. Similar facilities were built at the
Bellevue Hall estate, including a hunting barn, two indoor training tracks, and an outdoor track.
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535:. The latter opened on June 26, 1937. He had also helped write the legislation to authorize development of the park and was the major shareholder. The Thoroughbred farms and racing were important parts of the Delaware and Maryland economies in those decades, although racing gradually drew smaller crowds.
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on the estate's board of directors, the trust reached an agreement with the descendants group granting the group a majority of board seats, and has since that time been making efforts to reemphasize the history taught at the former plantation around the important historical context of James
Madison's
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of Mid-Atlantic horse facilities. In addition to the indoor galloping track, the first in the United States, the farm featured a large barn for race horses; a 40-foot (12 m)-wide by 120-foot (37 m)-long indoor riding ring, used by trainers for schooling young horses; the half-mile training
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Du Pont was elected to the board of directors of the
Delaware Trust Company, where his father was president (and later chairman of the board), in 1921. His career with the bank would continue until his death. In 1928, William inherited the Bellevue Hall estate in Delaware upon the death of his
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They both were educated in private schools and became interested in the world of thoroughbred horse racing, including steeplechase, hunts, and horse shows. William specialized in thoroughbred racing and breeding. Marion also became known for her contributions to horse racing and breeding.
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father. The estate featured a Gothic
Revival castle built in 1855, which du Pont had remodeled into another replica of his boyhood home of Montpelier. His father's death also created a vacancy in the presidency of the Delaware Trust Company, and William ascended to the position.
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Following du Pont's death, none of his heirs were interested in retaining the
Bellevue Hall estate due to its extensive collection of recreational facilities and the upkeep they required. In 1976, the property was purchased by the state of Delaware and opened to the public as
396:, Foxcatcher Farm. During this period, he also established breeding operations at Bellevue Hall, his family's estate in Wilmington, Delaware. He had another operation at Fair Hill, where he established a steeplechase course on his 1,000 acres (4.0 km) facility.
580:, his presidency, and the architecture and society of Montpelier. Following a widely publicized scandal in which the Trust fired all of its staff members who had been working towards increased representation of Americans descended from many
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334:. He gave the couple more than 600 acres (2.4 km) of land as a wedding gift. William's father built Liseter Hall for them on the property in 1922. The three-story
330:, was billed as the "Wedding of the Century" in media accounts because of the wealth of each family. Jean's father, William Liseter Austin, was a railroad baron at the
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367:, was 2 years old. Jean Liseter du Pont retained the property her father gave her. Following the divorce, du Pont moved his permanent residence to Bellevue Hall.
562:. In 1934, William and Marion established the Montpelier Races, a National Steeplechase event, which continues to be run each fall on the grounds at Montpelier.
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William du Pont Jr., banker and sportsman, died tonight at the
Memorial Division of the Wilmington Medical Center, where he had undergone surgery ...
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626:"William du Pont of Wilmington, Banker and Sportsman, 69, Dies. Head of Delaware Trust Co. Was Noted as an Architect of Race Courses"
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Du Pont and his wife developed a notable horse farm on their property. In the 1920s and 1930s, Liseter Hall Farm was considered the
264:(February 11, 1896 – December 31, 1965) was an English-born American businessman and banker, and a prominent figure in the sport of
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Du Pont's interests in racing extended to the development and design of racecourses. In all, he created 23 racecourses, including
271:. He developed and designed more than 20 racing venues, including Fair Hill at his 5,000-acre estate in Maryland. A member of the
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Du Pont and Jean had four children together, two girls and two boys. They divorced in
February 1941, when the youngest,
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took over as the trainer, managing the stable operation into the 1960s. During this time, du Pont won the 1938
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The
National Trust acquired the property to preserve and interpret as a public history site for James and
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859:"How Descendants Of The Enslaved At James Madison's Montpelier Gained Governance Of The Plantation"
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took the 1935 Withers Stakes, beating that season's Triple Crown winner, Omaha; he also beat
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for three-year-olds. Other of his horses won six
American championships and prominent races:
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Ruler, duPont's first homebred stakes winner, won the Brook
Steeplechase in 1929 and 1930.
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On January 1, 1919, du Pont married Jean Liseter Austin. Their marriage celebration in
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Marjorie Hunter (NY Times News Service), "James Madison's Montpelier to become museum:
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407:. In 1936, duPont was part of the syndicate that bought and imported the stallion
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Businessman, banker, racetrack owner, racehorse owner/breeder, racecourse designer
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885:"At Montpelier, Slaves' Descendants Will Share Power With White Board Members"
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He died at the Wilmington Medical Center at age 69 on December 31, 1965.
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Their successes contributed to the value and reputation of his stables.
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Du Pont's racing operation was managed for several years by the trainer
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826:"At Madison's Montpelier, a Fight Over Power for Slaves' Descendants"
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In 1927, du Pont imported Satrap from England and brought the son of
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after their father's death. Located four miles (6 km) south of
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mansion was a replica of Montpelier, where du Pont had grown up.
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to stand at his second facility, the new Walnut Hall Farm near
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William du Pont and William du Pont Jr. photographic materials
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racing stable in the 1920s; he raced its horses under the
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At her death in 1983 Scott left the estate, designated a
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In 1928, Marion duPont Scott, the older child, inherited
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At Liseter Hall Farm, du Pont Jr. established a large
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James Madison's numerous slaves of African heritage
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27:American banker and racehorse breeder (1896–1965)
314:, which their parents had bought and expanded.
504:– 1960 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.
468:in the 1937 Santa Anita Handicap, a match race
554:, the estate had been the plantation home of
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667:"Last hurrah for historic Liseter Hall Farm"
1023:American expatriates in the United Kingdom
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294:William (also called Willie) was born at
571:National Trust for Historic Preservation
458:White Clover II – 1932 Suburban Handicap
345:du Pont with his wife Jean Liseter, 1919
942:Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
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604:Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
1018:Burials at Du Pont de Nemours Cemetery
1008:American racehorse owners and breeders
780:"DAUBER WINS PREAKNESS; CRAVAT SECOND"
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492:American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
479:American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
282:and Annie Rogers Zinn, and brother to
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824:Levenson, Michael (April 22, 2022).
744:"William du Pont Jr. Online Exhibit"
496:American Champion Older Female Horse
483:American Champion Older Female Horse
454:American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
634:. Associated Press. January 1, 1966
48:du Pont riding at a 1915 horse show
286:, a noted horsewoman and breeder.
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727:"Divorce to William du Pont, Jr."
310:, the historic home of President
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883:Lukpat, Alyssa (May 16, 2022).
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918:"The History of Bellevue Hall"
560:President of the United States
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370:Du Pont remarried in 1947 to
322:Marriages, family, and career
706:"William du Pont Jr. papers"
587:slavery in the United States
253:Delaware Sports Hall of Fame
746:. Hagley Museum and Library
708:. Hagley Museum and Library
684:"A house born of nostalgia"
108:Du Pont de Nemours Cemetery
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965:William du Pont Jr. Papers
671:Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred,
567:National Historic Landmark
978:Hagley Museum and Library
969:Hagley Museum and Library
960:Hagley Museum and Library
796:History of Delaware Park"
765:The Wilmington, Delaware
686:. Wilmington News Journal
444:, the second race of the
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427:U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
332:Baldwin Locomotive Works
290:Early life and education
529:Delaware Park Racetrack
302:. His older sister was
974:William du Pont papers
525:Cecil County, Maryland
494:and the 1954 and 1955
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328:Rosemont, Pennsylvania
306:, and they grew up at
124:Delaware Trust Company
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278:, he was the son of
181: 1947;
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121:Board member of
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923:. State of Delaware
767:Sunday Morning Star
733:, February 26, 1941
600:Bellevue State Park
425:, selected for the
376:Lexington, Kentucky
284:Marion duPont Scott
262:William du Pont Jr.
242:Marion duPont Scott
222:William du Pont III
139:Jean Liseter Austin
36:William du Pont Jr.
889:The New York Times
830:The New York Times
814:, 18 November 1984
798:, Official Website
769:– November 3, 1935
432:In the mid-1930s,
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233:& Annie Rogers
593:Legacy and honors
585:participation in
452:Fair Star – 1926
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88:December 31, 1965
64:February 11, 1896
16:(Redirected from
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636:. Retrieved
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266:Thoroughbred
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68:Loseley Park
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998:1965 deaths
993:1896 births
902:January 26,
868:January 26,
843:January 26,
786:15 May 1938
533:flat racing
475:Fairy Chant
416:Epsom Derby
214:Henry E. I.
987:Categories
610:References
548:Montpelier
542:Montpelier
519:course at
466:Seabiscuit
413:Aga Khan's
308:Montpelier
211:Jean Ellen
198:with Jean:
60:1896-02-11
897:0362-4331
838:0362-4331
569:, to the
558:, fourth
521:Fair Hill
513:Fair Hill
481:and 1941
238:Relatives
418:winner.
409:Blenheim
336:Georgian
273:Delaware
244:(sister)
194:Children
490:– 1954
477:– 1940
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129:Spouses
76:England
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527:, and
442:Dauber
304:Marion
255:(1979)
249:Awards
227:Parent
208:Evelyn
99:, U.S.
78:, U.K.
72:Surrey
921:(PDF)
502:Berlo
488:Parlo
440:with
177:(
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929:2015
904:2023
893:ISSN
870:2023
845:2023
834:ISSN
752:2015
714:2015
692:2015
640:2012
531:for
515:, a
365:John
183:div.
154:div.
84:Died
54:Born
976:at
967:at
863:BET
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58:(
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