In 1890, he and his brother organized the American Tobacco Company, and with their wealth they endowed Trinity College of North Carolina. What was their family name?

The story of American industry and philanthropy often features prominent families whose names become synonymous with their legacies. One such family, instrumental in shaping both the tobacco industry and higher education in the South, was the Dukes. It was Benjamin Newton Duke and his younger brother, James Buchanan Duke, who, in 1890, masterminded the formation of the American Tobacco Company, consolidating numerous smaller firms into a powerful trust. This move cemented their family's place at the forefront of the burgeoning tobacco market, generating immense wealth.

With their substantial fortune, the Duke brothers became significant philanthropists. Their generosity was particularly directed towards Trinity College, a small Methodist institution located in Durham, North Carolina. Through significant endowments from the Duke family, the college was able to expand its facilities, attract leading faculty, and enhance its academic programs, transforming its future.

In recognition of this profound and continuing support, the trustees of Trinity College voted in 1924 to rename the institution Duke University. This act honored not only Benjamin and James, but also their father, Washington Duke, who had started the family's tobacco business after the Civil War. Today, Duke University stands as a testament to the family's entrepreneurial spirit and their enduring commitment to education, a legacy that continues to impact countless lives.