Home Save Homepage

The Founding of Stanford University

The world gave birth to Stanford University on the 1st October of 1891, and it was on that day when Stanford opened its doors to the world after six long years of planning then building. After the university had opened, in the early hours of the morning, construction workers were still on the premises preparing the Quadrangle for the upcoming open ceremony.

What will complete this story is the man that founded Stanford University. Leland Stanford was the fifth child of eight children. Leland was born in 1824 near Albany in New York. He was a hard worker, and schooling occupied his early years. In 1848, Leland had already spent three years in a law firm. Later he went in search for greater opportunities.

In 1860, Leland met with the new president of America, and in ’61 Leland was nominated for governor. Stanford won decisively with his wife Jane Stanford by his side. In 1885, Stanford would have been elected to the Senate in the U.S, but Stanford was reelected in ’91 and died in 1893.

The university was founded in the memory of Leland Stanford, Jr. There were 2,000 seats, which many of them classroom chairs. They seemed insufficient for the fast growing crowd that was gathering in the Quad.

At 11 a.m., Stanford took the stand and unfolded his manuscript. Jane Stanford stood at his side, shielding his face for the rays of the midday sun...

Jane and Leland Stanford had the means, the intelligence, the daring plan and the faith to build this university far from culture and it still stands today in the memory of L. Stanford, JR.