ekunselman

ROBBER BARRON VS. CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY

James Buchanan Duke was born on a small farm near Durham, North Carolina on December 23, 1856 and died on October 10,1925. The Civil War left the Duke family poor. The discovery of a small supply of tobacco that had somehow escaped capture by Union forces triggered their wealth.This supply sold so quickly that the Duke’s began production and distribution on a large scale. James and his brother Benjamin helped their father build up a tobacco-processing business, by 1872 the family was selling 125,000 pounds of tobacco annually. In 1882 business boomed as they began to manufacture cigaretts. In 1905 James organized the Southern Power and Light company. Eventhough the family made so much money James was a Captain of Industry. He gave large amounts of money to hospitals, orphanages, and churches. James left a trust fund to Trinity College for new buildings and facilities. He donated more that 60,000,000 dollars toward the creation of a new campus characterized by large buildings of Gothic design. In my opinion a Robber Barron would not donate any money willingly which makes James a Captain of Industry.

"James Buchanan Duke." __info.com.__ 26 Feb. 2008 .