William Lewis Lockwood
Encyclopedia
William Lewis Lockwood was one of the founders of Sigma Chi
fraternity
. He was born in New York City
and was admitted to Miami University
in Oxford, Ohio
at the age of eighteen.
fraternity. On June 28, 1855 the seven men founded a new fraternity, which they called "Sigma Phi." The name was changed to "Sigma Chi" a year later, after the theft of important fraternity documents from Lockwood's room.
Lockwood, who became the first treasurer
of Sigma Chi, was credited with helping the fraternity survive with his organizational, financial and business skills. Although he was not one of the main six founders, he fit in perfectly, and played an extremely important role in keeping the fraternity organized and out of debt. He was always well mannered and well dressed, and was also noted as being extremely honest.
.
began in the 1861, Lockwood enlisted in the 48th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant
. He was promoted to Captain
a year later before being seriously wounded at Fort Wagner
and honorably discharged in 1864. Lockwood then traveled to Usquepaug, Rhode Island
with his family, where he purchased wool mills
and later formed a successful firm
called, Lockwood, Alpin and Company.
in Brooklyn, New ]York.
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
fraternity
Fraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
. He was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and was admitted to Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
in Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
at the age of eighteen.
Sigma Chi Involvement
At Miami University, Lockwood began associating with six students who had departed acrimoniously from the Delta Kappa EpsilonDelta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
fraternity. On June 28, 1855 the seven men founded a new fraternity, which they called "Sigma Phi." The name was changed to "Sigma Chi" a year later, after the theft of important fraternity documents from Lockwood's room.
Lockwood, who became the first treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
of Sigma Chi, was credited with helping the fraternity survive with his organizational, financial and business skills. Although he was not one of the main six founders, he fit in perfectly, and played an extremely important role in keeping the fraternity organized and out of debt. He was always well mannered and well dressed, and was also noted as being extremely honest.
Academics
Lockwood graduated from college in 1858. After this, he returned to New York and applied himself to the study of aw and was admitted to the barBar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
.
Professional
When the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
began in the 1861, Lockwood enlisted in the 48th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
. He was promoted to Captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
a year later before being seriously wounded at Fort Wagner
Fort Wagner
Fort Wagner was a beachhead fortification on Morris Island, South Carolina, that covered the southern approach to Charleston harbor...
and honorably discharged in 1864. Lockwood then traveled to Usquepaug, Rhode Island
Usquepaug, Rhode Island
Usquepaug is a village in the towns of Richmond and South Kingstown in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States, along the Usquepaug River and near the Usquepaug Road Historic District....
with his family, where he purchased wool mills
Textile manufacturing
Textile manufacturing is a major industry. It is based in the conversion of three types of fibre into yarn, then fabric, then textiles. These are then fabricated into clothes or other artifacts. Cotton remains the most important natural fibre, so is treated in depth...
and later formed a successful firm
Firm
A firm is a business.Firm or The Firm may also refer to:-Organizations:* Hooligan firm, a group of unruly football fans* The Firm, Inc., a talent management company* Fair Immigration Reform Movement...
called, Lockwood, Alpin and Company.
Death
Lockwood never fully healed from his Civil War injuries, and he died in 1867 at the age of 30, becoming the first of the founding members of Sigma Chi to die. He is buried in Green-Wood CemeteryGreen-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
in Brooklyn, New ]York.