De Bary Hall - Frederick DeBary

Frederick DeBary

Samuel Frederick deBary was born January 12, 1815 at Frankfurt-am-Main in Germany. As a young man, Frederick befriended G. H. Mumm whose family produced brands of champagne in Rheims. Mumms proposed that deBary go to New York and introduce the family's champagne to America. At 25, deBary sailed to New York in 1840 to introduce Mumm's Champagne to the new wealthy class of merchants, manufacturers, financiers and professional men profiting from New York's growing port.

Once in New York, deBary organized an importing firm, Frederick deBary Company, strictly for Mumm's Champagne. Because luxury items were not yet predominately produced in America, deBary found much success. In 1844, deBary returned to Europe and married Julie Scherpenhauser. The couple permanently moved to New York and had two children, Adolphe and Eugenie. Eugenie later married a German and returned to Europe. Her children created the only descendants of Frederick deBary, where the family is now again solely European.