Bull Durham Smoking Tobacco, also known as “Genuine Bull Durham Smoking Tobacco,” was a world-famous brand of loose-leaf tobacco manufactured by W.T. Blackwell and Company in Durham, North Carolina. that originated around the 1850s and remained in production until August 15, 1988.  Over the years, the brand often changed ownership, yet continued to be one of the most successful tobacco brands of all time.

William Thomas Blackwell

William Thomas Blackwell, an original investor and owner of the Blackwell Company, contributed greatly to the success of the product. Blackwell and his company’s tactics with the brand paved the way for other corporations to succeed through the acquisition of the Bull Durham trademark. The success of the product ultimately is due to the successful advertising campaigns that made Durham world famous, brought jobs to the city, and made Durhamthe tobacco capital of the United States.

John Ruffin Green

John Ruffin Green, a tobacco peddler of the 1850s, owned and operated the J.R. Green Factory, the original place of production for Bull Durham. Green found moderate success in his own endeavors. The Civil War brought business to the Green Company when soldiers on both sides of the war used Green’s tobacco. The brand then spread by word of mouth due to its popularity with the soldiers.   Soon his business grew to be bigger than he could manage by himself.

W.T. Blackwell

Green decided to expand his business in 1869, partnering with both Blackwell and James R. Day.  This partnership made the J.R. Green and Company a big name in the tobacco industry. Blackwell and Day originally paid 1500 dollars each for their shares in the company.  Shortly after the initiation of the partnership Green died from tuberculosis.   After the death, Blackwell purchased Green’s shares of the company and the trademark for “Genuine Durham Smoking Tobacco” from the Green family for $2292.  This purchase is the official beginning of the W.T. Blackwell Company.