1On March 4, 1910, James Buchanan Duke became president of the Southern Power Company. Originally a tobacco magnate, Duke was forced to dissolve his business under the Sherman Antitrust Act, leading him to shift his focus to hydroelectric power. Believing that reliable and affordable energy was essential for the growth of the Tennessee River Valley and the Carolinas, he and his brothers founded Southern Power Company. This venture would later evolve into Duke Power, now known as Duke Energy, which today serves 8.4 million customers across seven southeastern states.