Captain’s Corner October

Captain’s Corner

Date: Saturday, October 21st

Time: 2 – 3 PM

Location: Cruiser Olympia

Cost: Included with any Ticket Package I Free for ISM Members

Bio: Lucas R. Clawson is a historian at Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Delaware. He works with the historical records at Hagley, using them to create public programming, lead discussions with Hagley’s staff, and for scholarly research on topics such as the DuPont Company in the American Civil War and the U.S. Navy during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Lucas is a graduate of Appalachian State University and the University of Delaware. He has been with Hagley since 2007.

Topic Summary: This talk explores how the DuPont Company dealt with disruptions in shipping and the maritime economy during the Civil War. Around 90% of the raw ingredients used in black powder, a vital war material, came from international sources. This posed challenges that DuPont addressed by engaging with the U.S. government, customers, competitors, insurance agents, and a host of colorful characters during the war.