C. Douglass Buck

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. Early life and family Buck was born at Buena Vista near New Castle, Delaware, son of Francis 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 Hounsfield 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 attended the University of Pennsylvania Engineering School for two years, serving in the U.S. Army during World War I. Professional and political career By the early 20th century the Du Pont Company had become one of the 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 superhighway 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.