pratt was a farm boy adept at fixing things. he matriculated at the university of virginia and received a chemical engineering degree in 1902. after beginning his business career with the dupont company and, particularly serving with note during world war i in its washington state plant, pratt was selected in 1919 by pierre s. du pont to work in a corporation newly invested in by du pont and other significant, wealthy businessmen—general motors corporation, which was founded in 1908 by william durant. pratt was, in effect, dupont's man on the inside, initially solely looking out for dupont's interests.