Andrew Dickson White (November 7, 1832 – November 4, 1918) was an American historian and
educator, who was the co-founder of
Cornell University and served as its first president for nearly two decades. He was known for expanding the scope of college curriculae. A politician, he had served as state senator in New York; later he was appointed as a U.S.
diplomat to Germany and Russia, among other responsibilities.