Louis Sherry was born on this day in 1856, and most believe he was born in St. Albans. Sherry became famous as the proprieter of Sherry’s, an incredibly upscale restaurant in New York City.

He was a perfectionist, and his food was heralded on both sides of the Atlantic. Sherry took his entire staff to Savannah, Georgia by Pullman railroad car, with two cars of supplies, to cater a millionaire’s dinner for 300. Sherry’s hosted the New York Horseback Riding Club dinner in 1903 for $50,000.

Sherry and a partner built the Sherry Netherland Hotel on Fifth Avenue, which was the tallest apartment hotel in the world.

Image courtesy the NY Food Museum.