Cornell University

Cornell University was founded in 1865 in Ithaca, New York, by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, opening to students in 1868. It was chartered following collaboration in the New York State Senate and was initially funded by Ezra Cornell's endowment and New York's allotment under the Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862. Cornell oversaw construction and land investments, while White handled academic planning, serving as the university's first president. The university's founding principle, articulated by Ezra Cornell, aimed to establish an institution "where any person can find instruction in any study," reflecting an egalitarian vision. A 1873 state investigation cleared Cornell of accusations that he defrauded the Morrill Act for personal profit.