Littleton Waller Tazewell Bradford (1848–1918) was a

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

politician and a co-founder of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

Biography

Bradford, a cousin of fellow Pi Kappa Alpha founder Frederick Southgate Taylor, was born in Norfolk, Virginia on July 16, 1848 to Edmund Bradford and Anne Elizabeth (Tazewell) Bradford). Bradford's surname was changed from Bradford to Tazewell when the Virginia legislature gave him permission to adopt the name of his distinguished maternal grandfather,

Littleton Waller Tazewell Littleton Waller Tazewell (December 17, 1774May 6, 1860) was a Virginia lawyer, plantation owner and politician who served as U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator and the 26th Governor of Virginia, as well as a member of the Virginia House of Dele ...

, who was

Governor of Virginia The governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia serves as the head of government of Virginia for a four-year term. The incumbent, Glenn Youngkin, was sworn in on January 15, 2022. Oath of office On inauguration day, the Governor-elect takes th ...

and one of the state's most revered leaders in 19th century politics, but who had no male heir. This change was made after Bradford's days at the

Virginia Military Institute la, Consilio et Animis (on seal) , mottoeng = "In peace a glorious asset, In war a tower of strength""By courage and wisdom" (on seal) , established = , type = Public senior military college , accreditation = SACS , endowment = $696.8 mill ...

(VMI) and at the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United States, with highly selective ad ...

, where records show him as "T. Bradford" or "L.W.T. Bradford". Bradford was educated first at

Norfolk Academy Norfolk Academy (NA) is an independent co-educational day school in Norfolk, Virginia. Chartered in 1728, it is the oldest private school in Virginia and the eighth oldest school in the United States. In 1966, Norfolk Academy merged with Country D ...

, then he was sent to be a cadet at VMI on February 6, 1865 where and he was assigned to the class of 1868. At this time, VMI had been moved from Lexington to Richmond. His cadetship lasted only two months until April 1865, when the corps was disbanded as Federal troops moved on Richmond and the capture of the

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

capital was imminent. The cadets were directed to escape the best way possible and Bradford escaped in a canal boat taking refuge with relatives further up the James River. Bradford entered the

prior to his five co-founders. He shared Lawn Room 47 with his cousin, Frederick Southgate Taylor. At the University he studied

medicine Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pr ...

but dropped out and entered business in Norfolk. For almost a half a century, Bradford (now known by the surname Tazewell) was active in business and civic life in the city of Norfolk. His avocations were farming and

rowing Rowing is the act of propelling a human-powered watercraft using the sweeping motions of oars to displace water and generate reactional propulsion. Rowing is functionally similar to paddling, but rowing requires oars to be mechanically ...

. He was founder of the Chesapeake Boat Club, where he assembled an all-Pi Kappa Alpha crew. For twenty years, Tazewell was on the Norfolk City Council. He had been asked to run for

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

, but he declined. Tazewell married his wife, the former Mary Louise Walke (1856–1923) on November 6, 1883. He died on July 15, 1918 and is interred in the family square in Elmwood Cemetery, near the grave of his cousin Frederick Southgate Taylor. A monument gives simple details of birth, marriage and death.

External links

* 1848 births 1918 deaths Politicians from Norfolk, Virginia University of Virginia alumni Pi Kappa Alpha founders Tazewell family Virginia city council members {{Virginia-politician-stub