Ezra Cornell was the founder of Cornell University. He was an American businessman, politician, and philanthropist who founded the university in 1865. He was born in Westchester County, New York, and was a self-made man who rose from poverty to become one of the wealthiest men in the United States. He was a strong advocate for education and believed that everyone should have access to it. He was also a major supporter of the telegraph industry and helped to create the first transcontinental telegraph line. His legacy lives on through Cornell University, which is now one of the most prestigious universities in the world.