Born in New Castle County, Delaware, he received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1870.

[2] Joining the du Pont de Nemours Company as partner in 1873, Francis du Pont ran the Upper and Lower Hagley Yards and rose to become one of three vice presidents of the firm.

In 1893, he and Pierre S. du Pont patented a solvent recovery process for the production of smokeless gunpowder.

He ran the plant at Carney's Point, New Jersey, that made smokeless powder.

He distrusted modern business practices that he feared the younger generation would implement at the firm.