Edmund McIlhenny

Edmund McIlhenny
Born1815 (1815)
DiedNovember 25, 1890(1890-11-25) (aged 74–75)
Occupations
  • Businessman
  • entrepreneur
  • farmer
Years active18681890
Known forFounder of and chief executive of company McIlhenny, Manufacturer of Tabasco sauce
SpouseMary Eliza Avery
FamilyJohn Avery McIlhenny (son)
Edward Avery McIlhenny (son)

Edmund McIlhenny (/ˈmækəlhɛni/; 1815 – 25 November 1890) was an American businessman and manufacturer who founded the McIlhenny Company, which was the first to mass produce Tabasco sauce. While company legend attributes the invention of the sauce to McIlhenny, plantation owner Maunsel White is said by some to have been the first to cultivate and make a sauce from tabasco peppers in the United States, and gave the recipe and pepper pods to his friend McIlhenny.