Ezra Cornell was the founder of Cornell University, one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. He was born in Westchester County, New York in 1807 and was a self-made man who worked his way up from poverty to become a successful businessman. He was a philanthropist and an advocate for education, and he used his wealth to found Cornell University in 1865. He served as the university's first president and was instrumental in its early success.