R. R. M. Carpenter
Encyclopedia
Robert Ruliph Morgan Carpenter (July 30, 1877 – June 11, 1949) was an American executive and member of the board of directors of DuPont
.
and at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. He worked in his family's hardware store before joining DuPont as a district purchasing agent in 1906. He married Margaretta Lammot du Pont, the sister of company president Pierre S. du Pont
, on December 18, 1906, and began working under another brother, Irénée du Pont
in the development department, of which he was named director in 1911. Carpenter was instrumental in guiding the company's diversification outside the explosives industry, being appointed to the executive committee and serving on the board of directors from 1914 until his death in 1949. During his tenure, he held positions including head of personnel and vice president. His younger brother, Walter S. Carpenter, Jr.
, was President of DuPont from 1940 to 1948.
In 1940, Carpenter joined the Board of Trustees of the University of Delaware
, and was a major catalyst for the development of its athletic program, personally funding the construction of a new gymnasium. In 1943, he purchased the Philadelphia Phillies
of the National League
. He left day-to-day control in the hands of his son, R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr.
, who continued his father's tradition of substantial support for the University of Delaware’s athletic program after his father's death.
Carpenter also served as president of Wilmington's
Homeopathic Hospital, as a trustee of Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences
, and as director of the Girard Trust Company
, and of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad.
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
.
Biography
Known as "Ruly", Carpenter was educated at the Hillman Academy in his hometown of Wilkes-Barre, PennsylvaniaWilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
and at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. He worked in his family's hardware store before joining DuPont as a district purchasing agent in 1906. He married Margaretta Lammot du Pont, the sister of company president Pierre S. du Pont
Pierre S. du Pont
Pierre Samuel du Pont was president of the E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company from 1915 to 1919, and served on its Board of Directors until 1940...
, on December 18, 1906, and began working under another brother, Irénée du Pont
Irénée du Pont
Irénée du Pont was a U.S. businessman, former president of the DuPont company and head of the Du Pont trust.-Biography:A descendant of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, he graduated from Andover in 1894 and MIT in 1897, then worked for Fenn’s Manufacturing Contracting Company for a number of years before...
in the development department, of which he was named director in 1911. Carpenter was instrumental in guiding the company's diversification outside the explosives industry, being appointed to the executive committee and serving on the board of directors from 1914 until his death in 1949. During his tenure, he held positions including head of personnel and vice president. His younger brother, Walter S. Carpenter, Jr.
Walter S. Carpenter, Jr.
Walter Samuel Carpenter, Jr. was an American corporate executive from Wilmington, Delaware who oversaw the DuPont company's involvement in the Manhattan Project to produce an atomic bomb for use during World War II...
, was President of DuPont from 1940 to 1948.
In 1940, Carpenter joined the Board of Trustees of the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
, and was a major catalyst for the development of its athletic program, personally funding the construction of a new gymnasium. In 1943, he purchased the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. He left day-to-day control in the hands of his son, R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr.
R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr.
Robert Ruliph Morgan Carpenter Jr. was an owner and club president of the Philadelphia Phillies of American Major League Baseball. When he took command of the Phils, in November 1943 after his father purchased the franchise, Carpenter became the youngest club president in baseball history, and he...
, who continued his father's tradition of substantial support for the University of Delaware’s athletic program after his father's death.
Carpenter also served as president of Wilmington's
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
Homeopathic Hospital, as a trustee of Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
, and as director of the Girard Trust Company
Mellon Financial
Mellon Financial Corporation, was one of the world's largest money management firms. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it was in the business of institutional and high-net-worth-individual asset management, including the Dreyfus family of mutual funds; business banking; and shareholder and...
, and of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad.
Children
- Louisa d'Andelot CarpenterLouisa d'Andelot CarpenterLouisa D'Andelot Carpenter was a du Pont heiress, Jazz Age socialite, aviatrix, and bon vivant.-Early life:...
(October 16, 1907 - February 1976, Easton, MarylandEaston, MarylandEaston, founded 1710, is a town within the Easton District of Talbot County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,708 at the 2000 census, and 14,677 according to current July 2008 census estimates. It is the county seat of Talbot County. The primary ZIP Code is 21601, and the...
) - Irene du Pont Carpenter (b. January 21, 1911)
- Nancy Gardiner Carpenter (June 19, 1912 - July 13, 1914)
- Robert Ruliph Morgan Carpenter, Jr.R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr.Robert Ruliph Morgan Carpenter Jr. was an owner and club president of the Philadelphia Phillies of American Major League Baseball. When he took command of the Phils, in November 1943 after his father purchased the franchise, Carpenter became the youngest club president in baseball history, and he...
(August 31, 1915 - July 8, 1990) - William Kemble Carpenter (May 27, 1919 - August 1987 Boca Raton, FloridaBoca Raton, FloridaBoca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
)