Frederick Southgate Taylor
Encyclopedia
Frederick Southgate Taylor (December 16, 1847–February 16, 1896), was a successful businessman, politician
, avid philanthropist
, and founder of Pi Kappa Alpha
fraternity.
His father, the Honorable Tazewell Taylor, was the bursar
of The College of William and Mary until his death in 1850. Taylor grew up in and around Norfolk, Virginia
. Tradition states that he served in the Confederate Army, but no permanent record exists within his family.
After receiving his A.B. degree from William and Mary, Taylor entered the University of Virginia
in the Autumn of 1867. Taylor stayed at 47 West Range (part of The Range
) until 1869, studying pre-law.
On Sunday Evening March 1, 1868, at 47 West Range, Pi Kappa Alpha
was founded by Frederick Southgate Taylor, his cousin and roommate Littleton Waller Tazewell Bradford
, two of Tazewell's fellow Virginia Military Institute
cadets then studying medicine at Virginia, James Benjamin Sclater Jr.
and Julian Edward Wood
, another medical student Robertson Howard
, and finally business student William C. Alexander. It is generally indicated and accepted that Taylor was the inspiration behind the founding of Pi Kappa Alpha. He gave the fraternity its name and motto. He is thought to have written the early ritual.
Upon graduation Taylor continued to study law
but never practiced it as a profession. He devoted himself primarily to commercial enterprises and politics, amassing a small fortune through real estate. He married Anna Brooke; they had a daughter and four sons.
Representing Norfolk in the Virginia General Assembly
for two terms, Taylor then served as President of the Common Council of Norfolk, a position similar to the office of mayor
. Always thought of as an outstanding philanthropist and citizen, Taylor made this reputation through using his fortune generously for community service initiatives.
On February 16, 1896, Taylor dropped dead on the streets of Norfolk while talking with an associate. Taylor was forty-nine years old, and most of his children were still young. Taylor was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk along with his cousin and fellow founder Littleton Waller Tazewell Bradford. Taylor's son, Brooke Taylor, was initiated into Pi Kappa Alpha in 1898 at Pi Chapter of Washington and Lee University
.
Norfolk newspapers wrote the following upon Taylor's death:
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, avid philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, and founder of Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:...
fraternity.
His father, the Honorable Tazewell Taylor, was the bursar
Bursar
A bursar is a senior professional financial administrator in a school or university.Billing of student tuition accounts are the responsibility of the Office of the Bursar. This involves sending bills and making payment plans with the ultimate goal of getting the student accounts paid off...
of The College of William and Mary until his death in 1850. Taylor grew up in and around Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. Tradition states that he served in the Confederate Army, but no permanent record exists within his family.
After receiving his A.B. degree from William and Mary, Taylor entered the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in the Autumn of 1867. Taylor stayed at 47 West Range (part of The Range
The Range
The Range is part of the original grounds of the University of Virginia as designed by Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. The Range buildings run parallel to and face away from the Lawn, and are separated from the Lawn by a series of ten gardens .There are six "hotels" on the...
) until 1869, studying pre-law.
On Sunday Evening March 1, 1868, at 47 West Range, Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:...
was founded by Frederick Southgate Taylor, his cousin and roommate Littleton Waller Tazewell Bradford
Littleton Waller Tazewell Bradford
Littleton Waller Tazewell Bradford was a prominent Virginia politician and a founder of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.Bradford, a cousin of fellow Pi Kappa Alpha founder Frederick Southgate Taylor, was born in Norfolk, Virginia on July 16, 1848, the son of Edmund Bradford and Anne Elizabeth Bradford...
, two of Tazewell's fellow Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
cadets then studying medicine at Virginia, James Benjamin Sclater Jr.
James Benjamin Sclater Jr.
James Benjamin Sclater, Jr. was a founder of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.Sclater was born in Orange County, Virginia, on July 19, 1847, the son of James Benjamin Sclater, Sr. and Harriet Sclater. Soon after his birth, his father moved to Richmond, where for many years, he was in the general...
and Julian Edward Wood
Julian Edward Wood
Julian Edward Wood , was a founder of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.Wood was the son of William Edward Wood and Sophia Marchant Wood and was born in 1844 in Currituck County, North Carolina, not far from the site of the ill-fated Raleigh colony on Roanoke Island. His father, a practicing physician,...
, another medical student Robertson Howard
Robertson Howard
Robertson Howard , was an attorney, editor for West Publishing, and founder of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.Howard was born December 11, 1847 to Flodoardo R. Howard and Lydia Maria Howard, in Brookeville, Maryland. His mother was of solid Quaker stock and his father was a descendant of the Howards...
, and finally business student William C. Alexander. It is generally indicated and accepted that Taylor was the inspiration behind the founding of Pi Kappa Alpha. He gave the fraternity its name and motto. He is thought to have written the early ritual.
Upon graduation Taylor continued to study law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
but never practiced it as a profession. He devoted himself primarily to commercial enterprises and politics, amassing a small fortune through real estate. He married Anna Brooke; they had a daughter and four sons.
Representing Norfolk in the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
for two terms, Taylor then served as President of the Common Council of Norfolk, a position similar to the office of mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
. Always thought of as an outstanding philanthropist and citizen, Taylor made this reputation through using his fortune generously for community service initiatives.
On February 16, 1896, Taylor dropped dead on the streets of Norfolk while talking with an associate. Taylor was forty-nine years old, and most of his children were still young. Taylor was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk along with his cousin and fellow founder Littleton Waller Tazewell Bradford. Taylor's son, Brooke Taylor, was initiated into Pi Kappa Alpha in 1898 at Pi Chapter of Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
.
Norfolk newspapers wrote the following upon Taylor's death:
"quiet and unostentatious in his manner" whose "friends appreciate his true worth, while the city at large felt the benefits of his interest at all times and all circumstances." He was called a "gentleman in every sense of the word" and characterized as "devotedly attached to his wife and family." His business associates esteemed him for "his earnest character, his intelligence, and faithfulness to duty" and they saw in him a man "whose services in public offices were distinguished by zeal, integrity, and success, while his private life was adorned by the highest social virtues."