Ezra Cornell

Ezra Cornell (January 11, 1807 – December 9, 1874) was an American businessman and, with Andrew Dickson White, is founder of Cornell University, . He was born in Westchester County, New York, the son of a potter, Elijah Cornell. He was a first cousin, four times removed of Benjamin Franklin on his maternal grandmother's side. Having travelled extensively as a carpenter in New York State, Ezra, upon first setting eyes on Cayuga Lake and Ithaca, decided Ithaca would be his future home.

See also

• Cornell University
• Ithaca, New York
• Mary Morrill - Ezra's 4th great-grandmother and Benjamin Franklin's grandmother