Stanford, Leland (1824-1893), was a railroad builder, governor of California, and United States senator. In 1885, he founded Stanford University with a gift of land and securities. Stanford was born in Watervliet, N.Y. He moved to California in 1852 and was governor of that state in 1862 and 1863. In 1861, he helped form the Central Pacific Railroad, part of the first U.S. transcontinental railway. He served as president of the Central Pacific from 1861 until his death. Stanford and his partners acquired a near monopoly over California railroads, uniting them under the name Southern Pacific in 1884. Stanford was president of the Southern Pacific from 1884 to 1890. From 1885 until his death, he served as a Republican U.S. senator from California. See also Stanford University .
