Leland Stanford Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leland Stanford Jr.
|
|
|---|---|
Leland Stanford in 1872
|
|
| Born |
Leland DeWitt Stanford
May 14, 1868 Sacramento, California, U.S.
|
| Died | March 13, 1884 (aged 15) Florence, Italy
|
| Known for | Namesake of Stanford University |
| Parents |
|
Leland Stanford Jr. was the only son of a very important American businessman and politician, Leland Stanford, and his wife, Jane Stanford. He was born on May 14, 1868. For the first nine years of his life, he was known as Leland DeWitt Stanford. When he was just 15 years old, he sadly passed away from a sickness called typhoid. To honor their beloved son, his parents decided to build a famous university in his name: Stanford University. Its full official name is still Leland Stanford Junior University.
Contents
His Early Life
Leland Stanford Jr. was the only child of California Governor Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane Stanford. His mother, Jane, was 39 years old when he was born. Before Leland Jr. arrived, his parents had been married for 18 years without having any children.
A Trip to Europe and Illness
When Leland Jr. was almost 16, he went on a big trip to Europe with his parents. This kind of trip was called a "Grand Tour" back then. Sadly, while they were in Athens, Greece, Leland Jr. became very sick. He had caught typhoid, a serious illness.
His parents quickly took him to Italy to get medical help. They traveled from Naples to Rome, and finally to Florence. For several weeks, his condition would get a little better, then worse again. Sadly, he passed away in Florence on March 13, 1884, just two months before his 16th birthday.
A Lasting Legacy: Stanford University
After their son's death, Leland Stanford Sr. told his wife, Jane, that "the children of California shall be our children." This meant they wanted to help young people in California. To honor Leland Jr., the Stanfords decided to use their huge fortune to create a special memorial in his name.
They built a university called Leland Stanford Junior University. This amazing school, now known as Stanford University, opened its doors in 1891. It was a way for them to turn their sadness into something that would help many generations of students.
Leland Stanford Jr. is buried next to his parents at the Stanford Mausoleum on the university campus. After his father died in 1893, his mother, Jane Stanford, continued to guide the university's growth until her own death in 1905.
The University's Official Name
Even though most people just say "Stanford University" or "Stanford," the school's official name is still "Leland Stanford Junior University." You can see this full name on the university's official seal.
