Jane Lathrop Stanford, an American philanthropist, born at Albany, N.Y. She was married in 1850 to Leland Stanford, subsequently Governor of California and U.S. Senator.
In 1885 she aided her husband to establish Leland Stanford Jr. University at Palo Alto, Cal., in memory of their son.
After her husband's death in 1893 Mrs. Stanford was occupied chiefly by fostering the development and extension of the university, and by further benefactions of securities and land, valued at $30,000,000, she made it the wealthiest educational institution in the world.
Mrs. Stanford also established the Children's Hospital in her native town of Albany, N.Y., and gave large sums to various schools and kindergartens.