<P> Samuel Hubbard 's Mercantile Exchange Bank eventually became Florida National Bank after Jacksonville 's Great Fire of 1901 . Millionaire Alfred I. du Pont acquired a major interest in the FNB shortly after moving to Jacksonville in the mid-1920s , but he was unable to gain control until the Great Depression struck in 1929 . The FNB stayed solvent throughout the 1930s because du Pont put $15 million of his own money into the institution to cover Bank runs . During the early 1930s , six other Florida National Banks were opened throughout Florida , including Lakeland and Bartow ; Alfred 's wife , Jessie Ball du Pont was named a director of the bank . When Alfred du Pont died in 1935 , the du Pont Trust , managed by Ed Ball , Jessie du Pont 's brother , continued to control the bank . Growth continued with the acquisition of many more Florida banks over the next two decades and became known as the Florida National Group , which was one of the strongest banks in the state . In size , the branches eventually numbered 185 , second only in Florida to Barnett Bank . </P>
<P> Samuel Hubbard 's Mercantile Exchange Bank eventually became Florida National Bank after Jacksonville 's Great Fire of 1901 . Millionaire Alfred I. du Pont acquired a major interest in the FNB shortly after moving to Jacksonville in the mid-1920s , but he was unable to gain control until the Great Depression struck in 1929 . The FNB stayed solvent throughout the 1930s because du Pont put $15 million of his own money into the institution to cover Bank runs . During the early 1930s , six other Florida National Banks were opened throughout Florida , including Lakeland and Bartow ; Alfred 's wife , Jessie Ball du Pont was named a director of the bank . When Alfred du Pont died in 1935 , the du Pont Trust , managed by Ed Ball , Jessie du Pont 's brother , continued to control the bank . Growth continued with the acquisition of many more Florida banks over the next two decades and became known as the Florida National Group , which was one of the strongest banks in the state . In size , the branches eventually numbered 185 , second only in Florida to Barnett Bank . </P>
who took control of the florida national bank in 1929
who took control of the florida national bank in 1929
Alfred I. du Pont
Alfred I. du Pont