Washington Duke

Washington Duke
Born
Washington Duke

(1820-12-18)December 18, 1820
DiedMay 8, 1905(1905-05-08) (aged 84)
Occupation(s)Farmer, entrepreneur
Known forNamesake of Duke University
Founder of the tobacco manufacturer W. Duke, Sons & Co.
Spouses
Mary Caroline Clinton
(1842⁠–⁠1847)
Artelia Roney
(1852⁠–⁠1858)
ChildrenFive, including Benjamin, James and Brodie
Signature

Washington Duke (December 18, 1820 – May 8, 1905) was an American tobacco industrialist and philanthropist. During the American Civil War he enlisted in the Confederate States Navy. In 1865, Duke founded the W. Duke, Sons & Co., a tobacco manufacturer that would be merged with other companies to form conglomerate American Tobacco Company in 1890.