The Birthday of Eternity

Washington Duke, died May 8, 1905

In 1880, at the age of sixty, Washington Duke retired from the tobacco business and devoted himself to his family, his church and the Republican Party. 

"Fairview"

In the mid-1880s, Duke built an impressive Victorian style mansion near the factory of W. Duke and Sons on Durham's Main Street.  Known as "Fairview" the house was surrounded by handsome grounds which included an impressive glass greenhouse. Duke's deceased wife's maiden sister, Miss Ann Roney, was housekeeper, and after the death of his daughter, Mary Duke Lyon, in 1893, her children resided at Fairview. 

Duke with his granddaughter, Mary

Duke used his influence to have  the Methodist-related Trinity College moved to Durham. The institution opened its new campus in 1892 with him and his son Benjamin as its principal benefactors. 

James and Benjamin Duke

In 1896, Duke gifted the college with $100,000 (about $2,200,000 in 2005 dollars) on the condition that it open its doors to women. 

In 1901, Duke and his sons established Durham's first hospital for African Americans, Lincoln Hospital on Proctor Street. 

Duke died on May 8, 1905 at the age of 84.

In 1908,  a statue of Duke was dedicated at the entrance to Duke's East Campus.

Trinity College was renamed in honor of Duke in 1924, becoming Duke University.  The Duke philanthropy to the university was continued by his sons, daughters, and their children.

Duke Family Mausoleum

Duke was originally buried in a family mausoleum in the Maplewood Cemetery in Durham.  After the completion of Duke University's Chapel in 1932, Washington Duke was interred in its Memorial Chapel along with his sons, Benjamin and James.

Memorial Chapel