George Washington Watts
George Washington Watts | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Cumberland, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | March 7, 1921 (aged 69) |
| Occupation(s) | Industrialist, financier, benefactor |
| Known for | Founding American Tobacco Company; establishing Watts Hospital; contributions to Duke University |
George Washington Watts (August 18, 1851 – March 7, 1921) was an influential American industrialist, financier, and benefactor. Along with James B. Duke, he was instrumental in founding the American Tobacco Company. He also established Watts Hospital, the inaugural hospital in Durham, North Carolina, and contributed significantly to the creation of Duke University.
Biography
Watts was born in Cumberland, Maryland, to parents Gerard Snowden Watts and Ann Elizabeth Wolvington. He received his education at private institutions in Baltimore and earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Maryland in 1871. As a committed Presbyterian, he was among the early congregants of Durham’s First Presbyterian Church and played a role in founding Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church to serve workers from one of his cotton mills.
In 1875, Watts married Laura Valinda Beall, with whom he had a daughter named Annie Louise Watts. Following their separation in 1915, he entered into marriage with Sara Virginia Ecker two years later and remained married to her until his passing.
Following his university graduation, Watts joined his father’s tobacco commission enterprise in Baltimore. In 1878, he collaborated with Washington Duke to form W. Duke Sons and Company, taking on roles as stockholder, secretary, and treasurer. Being the sole non-family member sparked friction with Brodie Duke, who infamously named local streets "Washington," "Hated," and "Watts" — names that were eventually replaced by "Gregson St." Watts was a key figure in establishing the American Tobacco Company in 1890 and went on to found Erwin Cotton Mills Company in 1892. Demonstrating a strong commitment to worker welfare, he financed libraries, parks, playgrounds, and endowed Watts Hospital in Durham. Additionally, he constructed Harwood Hall, an expansive residence located in Durham.
Watts held executive positions at several organizations:
- President: Pearl Cotton Mill, Home Savings Bank and Trust (which he co-founded), Commonwealth Club of Durham
- Vice-President: Locke Cotton Mill
- Director: Seaboard Air Line Railroad, Durham and Southern Railway Company, Virginia-Carolina Chemical Company, Southern Cotton Oil Company, Fidelity Bank, Durham Loan & Trust Company (co-founded alongside his son-in-law John Sprunt Hill)
Duke University
By 1922, the esteemed reputation of Watts Hospital for delivering excellent care and its philanthropic dedication to assisting the working poor inspired James B. Duke and North Carolina Governor Cameron Morrison to propose the establishment of the state's first four-year medical school—Duke University. This institution was designed to integrate medical education with clinical practice at Watts Hospital.
Watts School of Nursing
In 1895, George Watts founded the Watts Hospital Training School for Nurses, later known as the Watts School of Nursing (Watts SON). The inaugural graduate was Ethel Clay in 1897. Since 1976, Watts SON has operated within Durham Regional Hospital and is currently incorporated into the Duke University Health System.