Founding of Cornell University

Andrew Dickson White According to the "Office of the President" of Cornell University in New York State, when Andrew Dickson White and Ezra Cornell met in the New York State Senate, "A radical idea in American Education was born…" (Cornell). That radical idea was to create a "truly great university" that would do this: "Afford an asylum for Science -- where truth shall be taught for truth's sake…" (Cornell).

White had served as a diplomat and an educator at the University of Michigan and Cornell had made a great deal of money developing the telegraph system (with Samuel Morse and Hiram Sibley). So the two had vision, money, and a plan. White was born in 1832 in Homer, New York, on November 7. When he turned 17 White attended the Geneva (Hobart) College in western New York State, a college that had an Episcopal orientation.

Apparently White did not appreciate the religious aspects of this educational institution so he dropped out and attended Yale instead, graduating in 1853 (Britannica). He and a friend, Daniel Gilman, then went to Europe to study languages and history (Berlin and Paris); White made a good impression the American minister in St. Petersburg, Russia, and was named an attache to the minister. Later, in 1856, White got his master of arts from Yale and took a job teaching at the University of Michigan (a non-sectarian institution).

He taught there for 6 years and during that time envisioned launching a new university for New York, which turned out to be Cornell University. His State Senator's position was launched in 1862, and by 1868, White and Cornell saw their cherished idea come to fruition as Cornell was inaugurated (Britannica). At Cornell, White served as president, history professor and chief administrator. He concluded his direct involvement.