C. Douglass Buck
| Clayton Douglass Buck | |
|---|---|
 |
|
|
United States Senator from Delaware |
|
|
In office January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1949 |
|
| Preceded by | James H. Hughes |
| Succeeded by | J. Allen Frear, Jr. |
| 58th Governor of Delaware | |
|
In office January 15, 1929 – January 19, 1937 |
|
| Lieutenant |
James H. Hazel Roy F. Corley |
| Preceded by | Robert P. Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Richard C. McMullen |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 21, 1890 New Castle, Delaware, U.S. |
| Died | January 27, 1965 (aged 74) New Castle, Delaware, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Alice du Pont |
| Residence | New Castle, Delaware, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania |
| Profession | engineer |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Clayton Douglass Buck (March 21, 1890 – January 27, 1965) was an American engineer and politician from New Castle Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. He was a veteran of World War I and a member of the Republican Party, who served two terms as Governor and one term as U. S. Senator from Delaware. He was known by his middle name.
Buck was born at Buena Vista near New Castle, Delaware, son of Frances N. and Margaret Douglass Buck. His father was from Philadelphia and his mother was related to U.S. Senator and Secretary of State John M. Clayton. He married Alice du Pont, daughter of U.S. Senator T. Coleman du Pont, and they had two children, Clayton Douglass, Jr. and Mrs. Dorcas Van Dyke Farquhar. They were members of Immanuel Episcopal Church in New Castle. He was educated at the Wilmington Friends School and the attended University of Pennsylvania Engineering School for two years, serving in the U.S. Army during World War I.
By the early 20th century the Du Pont Company had become one of world’s major corporations, bringing enormous wealth to its owners and providing employment and other opportunities to their native state. One of the three key owners of the company was T. Coleman du Pont, a capable, energetic and ambitious man, who was also Buck’s father-in-law. Du Pont had a vision of a super highway running the length of Delaware, and the ambition, talent, and money to make it a reality. Construction began in 1917 and in that same year a new State Highway Department was established to oversee the work. Nevertheless, du Pont continued to pay the bills, amounting to $4 million by 1924. With his engineering education and family connections, Buck was assigned to work on the project, becoming Chief Engineer in 1921 and remaining in the role until 1929.
Buck was elected Governor of Delaware in 1928, defeating Democrat Charles M. Wharton. During this term the New York Stock Market crashed, signaling the beginning of the Great Depression. Fortunately, about the same time, Alfred I. du Pont had begun an effort to provide financial relief to those in the most need. Having failed to get such relief enacted by the Delaware General Assembly, on November 1, 1929 du Pont began mailing out personal checks of sixteen dollars to some eight hundred people. After spending some $350,000 of his own money, du Pont, appointed by Buck as Chairman of the Old Age Welfare Commission, persuaded the General Assembly to take over the program in late 1930. As the economic situation continued to worsen, Buck called the General Assembly into session in November 1932 and also persuaded them to pass a $2 million emergency relief measure.
...
Wikipedia