Founder Profile
Colonel Harland Sanders
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Colonel Harland Sanders?
Colonel Harland Sanders is a founder of KFC, which was founded in 1930.
- Company founded
- KFC
- Founded
- 1930
Background
Before KFC, Sanders worked a long string of jobs, including farmhand, railroad fireman, insurance salesman and tire salesman, before running a service station in Corbin, Kentucky.
Founding Story
Harland Sanders (1890-1980) founded Kentucky Fried Chicken. He began serving meals at his Corbin, Kentucky service station in 1930, developed the Original Recipe seasoning and pressure-frying method, and started franchising in 1952 with Pete Harman in Salt Lake City. He sold the company in 1964 to John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack Massey for $2 million and remained its public face until his death in 1980. 'Colonel' was an honorary Kentucky title.
Education: La Salle Extension University. Colonel Harland Sanders was born in 1890.