Samuel Francis Du Pont (1803-1865) was an admiral in the United States Navy who fought in the Mexican-American War and the Civil War.

In 1815, Du Pont received a commission as a midshipman in the United States Navy. Over the next thirty years, he rose steadily within the ranks, becoming a commander attached to the Pacific squadron in 1844. During the Mexican-American War, he earned distinction for defending the California blockade. After the Mexican War, Du Pont began a decade-long tour of shore duty, attempting to improve naval and marine affairs and serving as a member of the board that established the Naval Academy at Annapolis.

At the start of the Civil War, Du Pont was appointed a senior member of the Commission of Conference to establish naval operations for the North. Du Pont was in charge of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and broke his flag on the U.S.S. Wabash. In November 1861, he led a successful campaign that captured Port Royal in South Carolina. Because of the success of this operation, Du Pont was promoted to rear admiral in July 1862. The Union remained in control of Port Royal, the headquarters of Du Pont's blockading squadron. By late 1862, considerable tension was building between Port Royal and Washington as pressure mounted for an attack on Charleston. The plan was to have the new ironclad monitors lead the assault. In 1863, Du Pont's fleet of ironclads was unsuccessful at taking Charleston. In one of the most highly publicized naval battles of the Civil War, this defeat was a tremendous blow to the Union. Blame was placed on Du Pont, who was immediately relieved of his command.

Samuel Francis Du Pont married Sophie Madeleine du Pont (1810-1888), in 1833; they had no children. Sophie Madeleine du Pont (1810-1888) was the youngest daughter of Eleuthère Irénée du Pont (1771-1834), founder of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., and Sophie Madeleine Dalmas du Pont (1775-1828).

She was educated at home by her sister, Victorine du Pont Bauduy (1792-1861), and then attended Mrs. Grimshaw's school in Philadelphia for several months in 1825. Du Pont resided along the Brandywine her entire life, first in her parents' home and then in her husband's home, Louviers, located across the river. Her interests included family history, drawing, literature, religion, politics, and missionary work.