Frederick Southgate Taylor
(1847-1896)

All evidence and testimony of both records and reminiscence indicate that the founding of Pi Kappa Alpha was largely the inspiration of Frederick Southgate Taylor, that he was the instigator and original founder. It was he who gave the Fraternity its name and motto, and he probably wrote the early ritual.

He was born December 16, 1847, the son of the Honorable Tazewell Taylor and Anna Robinson Taylor; his father from 1950 until death was the bursar of William and Mary College. Thus, the early days of Frederick Southgate Taylor were spent in Norfolk, Virginia. Although there is a tradition in the Fraternity that he was a member of the Confederate Army, his family has no record of military service for him.

Founder Taylor received an A.B. degree from William and Mary in 1867-68, according to the general catalogue of that college. He entered the University of Virginia in the autumn of 1867, and lived at 47 West Range. His stay at the University was from 1867-69, where his studies were in the area of pre-law.

In Norfolk, he may have "read law," as the expression went, meaning to study law in an actual office, but he never practiced law as a profession. Instead, he devoted his energies to the world of commerce and in some measure, to local and state politics. He was quite successful in his real estate business and amassed a small fortune. He was married to Anna Brooke and they had five children, a daughter and four sons, one of whom preserved his father's name.

He represented Norfolk in the state legislature for two terms and he served as president of the Common Council of Norfolk, a position similar to that of a mayor of a city.

In Founder Taylor, Pi Kappa Alpha has an early example of a citizen devoted to community service. He used his fortune generously in Norfolk, contributing to various charities.

The life of Founder Taylor ended with shocking suddenness; he dropped dead on the streets of Norfolk as he talked with a business associate. This was on February 16, 1896, when he was only forty-nine years of age and when most of his children were yet small. He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Norfolk, in a beautiful and well kept square, and his grave is marked with a simple but dignified marker.

Reprinted from The Oak: A History of Pi Kappa Alpha.

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