Francois-Gabriel Aime III (1797-1867)

Valcour Aime inherited his family's sugar plantation and a fortune of some $100,000. Known as "the father of white sugar," he became the first person to refine sugar in Louisiana. Establishing the St. James Refinery on his 10,000 acre plantation (worked by a small army of slaves) he became the world's leading sugar producer. He was generally considered to be the wealthiest man in the South and for his opulent style of living he was given the sobriquet, "Louis XIV of Louisiana". But, unlike the French King, he was as generous as he was wealthy and gave liberally to help the lives of the poor. Devastated the premature death of his only son, wife and another daughter, he died a virtual recluse. In earlier years, he had been known for his hospitality and for establishing Jefferson College.