William Hewlett was an American engineer and co-founder of the technology company Hewlett-Packard (HP). Born on May 20, 1913, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he studied electrical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his bachelor's degree. Hewlett played a significant role in the development of electronic test equipment and personal computers. In 1939, Hewlett and his friend David Packard started their business in a garage in Palo Alto, California, which is often considered the birthplace of Silicon Valley. Under their leadership, HP became a major player in the technology industry, known for its innovation and quality products.