DuPont began in 1802 as a gunpowder mill founded by E.I. du Pont near Wilmington, Delaware, and quickly became the largest explosives supplier to the U.S. government. The company diversified into chemical and consumer products in the early 1900s, driven by research that led to discoveries like nylon and neoprene. Over its history, it has evolved from explosives manufacturing to a global chemical company involved in a wide range of products, and has a history of both scientific innovation and involvement in controversies.