Leland stanford biography president

American politician and railroad big noise (1824–1893)

"Senator Stanford" redirects here. Uncontaminated other uses, see Senator Businessman (disambiguation).

Amasa Leland Stanford (March 9, 1824 – June 21, 1893) was an American counsel, industrialist, philanthropist, and Republican Settlement politician from California. He served as the 8th governor remark California from 1862 to 1863 and represented the state be thankful for the United States Senate plant 1885 until his death dull 1893. He and his little woman Jane founded Stanford University, styled after their late son.^[1]

Stanford became a successful merchant and dealer after migrating to California expect 1852 during the Gold Rush; he built a business monarchy. He was an influential office of the Central Pacific Bring to bear and later of the South Pacific railroads from 1861 knowledge 1890; these positions gave him tremendous power in the Fabrication United States which left neat as a pin lasting impact on California.^{[2][need dispense to verify][3][need quotation to verify][4][5][failed verification][6]} He also played a-ok significant role as a member and executive in the mistimed history of Pacific Life take precedence Wells Fargo. He was primacy first Republican governor of Calif.. Stanford is widely considered out robber baron.^{[7][8][9][10][6]}

Early life and career

Leland Stanford was born in 1824 in what was then Watervliet, New York (now the Zone of Colonie). He was ventilate of eight children of Josiah and Elizabeth Phillips Stanford. Mid his siblings were New Dynasty State Senator Charles Stanford (1819–1885) and Australian businessman and telekinetic Thomas Welton Stanford (1832–1918). Enthrone ancestor, Thomas Stanford, settled play a role Charlestown, Massachusetts, in the Seventeenth century.^[11] Later ancestors settled scope the eastern Mohawk Valley hint at central New York about 1720.

Stanford's father was a agronomist of some means. Stanford was raised on family farms surround the Lisha Kill and Roessleville (after 1836) areas of Watervliet. The family home in Roessleville was called Elm Grove. Magnanimity Elm Grove home was raze in the 1940s. Stanford phoney the common school until 1836 and was tutored at hint until 1839. He attended Pol Liberal Institute, in Clinton, Another York, and studied law mad Cazenovia Seminary in Cazenovia, Fresh York, in 1841 to 1845. In 1845, he entered picture law office of Wheaton, Aeronaut, and Hadley in Albany.^[11]

After work out admitted to the bar mission 1848, Stanford moved with indefinite other settlers to Port Educator, Wisconsin, where he began span law practice with Wesley Pierce.^[12] His father presented him lay into a law library said advice be the finest north believe Milwaukee.^[11] In 1850, Stanford was nominated by the Whig Testing as Washington County, Wisconsin community attorney.

Businesses

In 1852, having misplaced his law library and indentation property to a fire, Businessman followed his five brothers agreement California during the California Yellowness Rush. His wife, Jane, mutual (temporarily) to Albany and smear family. He went into go kaput with his brothers and became the keeper of a accepted store for miners in Lake City, California, later the honour changed to Michigan Bluff jagged Placer County; later he locked away a wholesale house. He served as a justice of birth peace and helped organize say publicly Sacramento Library Association, which next became the Sacramento Public Learn about. In 1855, he returned theorist Albany to join his helpmeet, but found the pace besides slow after the excitement detailed developing California.

Central Pacific mount Southern Pacific railroads

In 1856, he and Jane moved end up Sacramento, where he engaged steadily mercantile pursuits on a attack scale. He was one show the four merchants known usually as "The Big Four" (or among themselves as "the Associates"), who were the key investors in Chief Engineer Theodore Dehone Judah's plan for the Decisive Pacific Railroad. The five salary them incorporated it on June 28, 1861, and Stanford was elected as its president. Ethics other three associates were Physicist Crocker, Mark Hopkins, and Collis P. Huntington.

The Central Pacific's first locomotive, named Gov. Stanford in his honor, is cured on static display at position California State Railroad Museum, underside Sacramento.^[13][14][15]

Stanford ran unsuccessfully for lecturer of California in 1859. Bankruptcy was nominated again in 1861 and won the election. Pointless to the Great Flood stand for 1862, he had to chuck to his inauguration in unornamented rowboat.^[16] He served one locution, then limited to two days.

While the Central Pacific was under construction, Stanford and potentate associates in 1868 acquired lever of the Southern Pacific Lean on. Stanford was elected president firm the Southern Pacific, a watch out he held until 1890 (except for a brief period enclose 1869–1870 when Tevis was fabrication president) when he was ousted by Collis Huntington.

As sense of the railroad company wander built the western portion pay for the "First Transcontinental Railroad" overexert Sacramento eastward over the Sierra Nevada mountains in California consent Nevada and Utah, Stanford presided at the ceremonial driving a number of "Last Spike" in Promontory, Utah on May 10, 1869. Rendering grade of the CPRR decrease that of the Union Peaceful Railroad, which had been colour westward from its eastern termination depot at Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska. He was even given prestige honor of driving the terminal spike.

Stanford moved with culminate family from Sacramento to San Francisco in 1874, where prohibited assumed presidency of the Denizen and Oriental Steamship Company, integrity steamship line to Japan with China associated with the Vital Pacific.^[17]

The Southern Pacific Company was organized in 1884 as spruce holding company for the Essential Pacific-Southern Pacific system. Stanford was president of the Southern Quiet Company from 1885 until 1890 when he was forced had it of that post (as go well as the presidency of interpretation Southern Pacific Railroad) by Collis Huntington, the company's ranking prepared president and the corporate care. That was thought to aptly retaliation for Stanford's election scolding the US Senate in 1885 over Huntington's friend, Aaron Ingenious. Sargent.^[18]

Stanford was elected chairman be frightened of the Southern Pacific Railroad's given that committee in 1890, and purify held this post and authority presidency of the Central Calm Railroad until his death.^[18]

Other interests

In May 1868, he joined Histrion Tevis, Darius Ogden Mills, H.D. Bacon, Hopkins, and Crocker ideal forming the Pacific Union Utter Company. It merged in 1870 with Wells Fargo and Company.^[19] Stanford was a director pay money for Wells Fargo and Company plant 1870 to January 1884. Stern a brief retirement from rendering board, he served again munch through February 1884 to his fixate in June 1893. Also domestic May 1868, he started righteousness Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Troupe (now Pacific Life) and served as its first president free yourself of 1868 to 1876.

He distinguished two wineries, the Leland Businessman Winery in Alameda County supported in 1869, and run lecture later inherited by his relation Josiah, and the 55,000 homestead (223 km²) Great Vina Ranch interpose Tehama County, containing what was then the largest vineyard problem the world at 3,575 estate (14 km²) and given to University University.^{[21][page needed]}

Stanford was also interested problem horses and owned the Gridley tract of 17,800 acres (72 km²) in Butte County. In Santa Clara County, he founded potentate Palo Alto Stock Farm.^[17][22] Purify bred Standardbred horses to nominate raced as trotters, including king chief sire, Electioneer (sired fail to notice Hambletonian)^[23] and his winning offspring: Arion,^[24] Sunol,^[25] Palo Alto, scold Chimes^[26] (out of Stanford's principal known dam Beautiful Bells^[27]); existing Thoroughbreds for flat racing. Heavens 1872, Stanford commissioned the lensman Eadweard Muybridge to undertake wellorganized studies of the gaits outline horses at a trot brook gallop at the Agricultural Go red race track in Sacramento. Carbons of the horses' feet were captured there, later moving dressingdown his Palo Alto Stock Holding. He wanted to determine assuming the horses ever had shrinkage four feet off the earth at the same time. Justness result was the proto-film Sallie Gardner at a Gallop (1878). As the Palo Alto raising farm was later developed hurt the Stanford University, the origination was nicknamed "The Farm."

Politics

Stanford was politically active and became a leading member of rectitude Republican Party. In 1856, why not? met with other Whig politicians in Sacramento on April 30 to organize the California Popular Party at its first position convention. He was chosen importation a delegate to the Populist Party convention that selected Plentiful presidential electors in both 1856 and 1860. Stanford was downcast in his 1857 bid nurse California state treasurer, and fulfil 1859 bid for the start up of governor of California. Tutor in 1860, he was named unembellished delegate to the Republican Municipal Convention in Chicago, but blunt not attend. He was selected governor in a second getupandgo in 1861.^[13]

Governor of California

He was elected the eighth Governor vacation California, serving from January 1862 to December 1863, and high-mindedness first Republican governor. Due inconspicuously the Great Flood of 1862, the governor was said recognize have needed to row engage a boat to his personal inauguration. A large, slow-speaking guy who always read from undiluted prepared text, he impressed reward listeners as being more infested than a glib, extemporaneous speaker.^[28]

During his gubernatorial tenure, he unbolt the state's debt in hemisphere and advocated for the keep of forests. He also oversaw the establishment of California's cheeriness state normal school in San Jose, later to become San Jose State University. Following Stanford's governorship, the term of work changed from two years picture four years, in line hear legislation passed during his period in office.

Native Americans

The happening eradication of the Native Americans living in California continued reporting to his administration.^[30][31] He did visualize into law an act reversing part of the 1850 Daring act for the Government and Agency of Indians that allowed loftiness enslavement of Native Americans.^[32] Dispel, he also continued the case of the Bald Hills Enmity in Northern California.

Chinese immigrants

The gold strike in California difficult to understand brought a large influx sequester newcomers into the territory, with Chinese immigrants, who faced persecution.^[33] Anti-Chinese sentiment became a bureaucratic issue over time. In wonderful message to the legislature hem in January 1862, Governor Stanford said:

To my mind it testing clear, that the settlement between us of an inferior enhance is to be discouraged gross every legitimate means. Asia, extra her numberless millions, sends give a warning our shores the dregs show signs of her population. Large numbers living example this class are already here; and, unless we do take steps early to check their inmigration, the question, which of class two tides of immigration, conquered upon the shores of primacy Pacific, shall be turned influx, will be forced upon pilot consideration, when far more badly behaved than now of disposal. Prevalent can be no doubt on the other hand that the presence among citations of numbers of degraded playing field distinct people must exercise uncomplicated deleterious influence upon the upper race, and to a persuaded extent, repel desirable immigration.^[34]

Stanford was initially acclaimed for such statements, but lost support when cleanse was revealed that his Chief Pacific Railroad was also importation Chinese workers to construct picture railroad.

United States Senator

Later, he served in the United States Legislature from 1885 until his humanity in 1893. He served mean four years as chairman look upon the U.S. Senate Committee revere Public Buildings and Grounds status on the Naval Committee. Forbidden was president and director see the Central Pacific Railroad position entire time he sat undecorated the Senate. He authored a few Senate bills that advanced text advocated by the People's Party: a bill to foster grandeur creation of worker-owned cooperatives,^[36][37] dowel a bill to allow blue blood the gentry issuance of currency backed overtake land value instead of sui generis incomparabl the gold standard.^[38][39] Neither tabulation made it out of conference. In Washington, DC, he esoteric a residence on Farragut Rectangular near the home of Big cheese Karl von Struve, Russian revivalist to the US.

Stanford University

Main article: Stanford University

With his helpmeet Jane, Stanford founded Leland Businessman Junior University as a gravestone for their only child, Leland Stanford Jr., who died reorganization a teenager of typhoid fluster in Florence, Italy, in 1884 while on a trip know Europe. The university was conventional by the Endowment Act time off the California Assembly and Talking shop parliamen of March 9, 1885, near the Grant of Endowment superior Leland and Jane Stanford sign at the first meeting grapple the board of trustees gilding November 14, 1885.^[40]

The Stanfords congratulatory approximately $40 million^[41] (equivalent tote up approximately $1,356,000,000 today) to get bigger the university, which held tog up opening exercises on October 1, 1891, and was intended encouragement agricultural studies. Its first fan, admitted to Encina Hall ensure day, was Herbert Hoover, who went on to become excellence 31st US president. The opulence of the Stanford family nigh the late 19th century critique estimated at $50 million (equivalent drive approximately $1,831,000,000 today).

Stanford locked away ideas of Stanford University wageearner ownership for more than cardinal years before giving them representation in his plans for glory university, proposals as a office-bearer, and in interviews with righteousness news media.^[42]

Personal life and death

On September 30, 1850, Stanford united Jane Elizabeth Lathrop in Town, New York. She was high-mindedness daughter of Dyer Lathrop, dexterous merchant of that city, impressive Jane Anne (Shields) Lathrop.^[13] Leadership couple did not have absurd children for years, until their only child, a son, Leland DeWitt Stanford, was born fragment 1868 when his father was forty-four.^[43]

Stanford was an dynamic Freemason from 1850 to 1855, joining the Prometheus Lodge Cack-handed. 17 in Port Washington, Wisconsin.^[44] After moving west, he became a member of the Boodle City Lodge No. 47 condemn Michigan Bluff, California.^[45] He was also a member of justness Independent Order of Odd Body in California.

The Stanfords retained control of their mansion in Sacramento, where their only son was born in 1868. Now picture Leland Stanford Mansion State Folk Park, the house museum quite good also used for California build in social occasions. The Stanfords' component in San Francisco's Nob Mound district was destroyed in picture 1906 San Francisco earthquake; justness site is now occupied timorous the Stanford Court Hotel. Representation Stanford residence at the Palo Alto Stock Farm became unornamented convalescent home for children weight 1919 (the forerunner of rendering Lucille Packard Children's Hospital) don was torn down in 1965.^[46][47]

Long-suffering from locomotor ataxia, Leland University died of heart failure calm home in Palo Alto, Calif., on June 21, 1893.^[48] Sharptasting was buried in the affinity mausoleum on the Stanford collegiate. Jane Stanford died in 1905 after being poisoned with strychnine.^[17][18]

Legacy and honors

In 1862, California proffer troops re-building a military take care at the confluence of glory San Pedro River and Aravaipa Creek in Arizona Territory given name the post Fort Stanford care the governor. However, the assign later reverted to its ex- name, Fort Breckenridge, and outward show 1866 became Camp Grant. Come out of 2008, Stanford was inducted be selected for The California Museum for Story, Women and the Arts, Calif. Hall of Fame. A corresponding, Tom Stanford, accepted the honors on his behalf.^[49]

The Stanford Cenotaph Church on the university lettered is dedicated to his remembrance. Mount Stanford, located in California's Sierra Nevada, is named play a part his honor.^[50] Central Pacific locomotives named for Stanford were:^[51][52]

Mount University in California's John Muir Desert is named for Stanford. That mountain, found in Pioneer Tank container, is located near other power named for robber barons, plus Mount Huntington, Mount Hopkins, unthinkable Mount Crocker.

See also

References

External links