Leland Stanford was an American industrialist and politician, best known as a co-founder of the Central Pacific Railroad. Born on March 9, 1824, in New York, he moved to California during the Gold Rush and became a successful businessman. He served as the Governor of California from 1862 to 1863 and was a prominent figure in the development of the state's infrastructure. In addition to his business ventures, Stanford was a philanthropist. He established Stanford University in memory of his son, who died young. The university, located in Palo Alto, California, has since become one of the leading educational institutions in the world.