James Benjamin Sclater Jr.

James Benjamin Sclater Jr. (July 19, 1847 – April 5, 1882) was an American commercial broker and druggist. He was a founder of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at the University of Virginia in 1868.

Early life Sclater was born in Orange County, Virginia, on July 19, 1847. He was the son of Harriet (née Wharton) of Louisa County and James Benjamin Sclater Sr. of Fluvanna County. Soon after his birth, his family moved to Richmond. In Richmond, his father was a produce and merchandise broker and agent for Williams & Brothers. His father was also a director of Citizens Bank of Richmond.

Sclater briefly attended the Cabell School in the Virginia. While there, he was one of the founders of Pi Kappa Alpha in 1868, along with other students he met while attending VMI. In 1870, he was a clerk in a drug store in Essex, New Jersey.

He returned to Richmond in 1870 and lived with his father. By March 1873, Sclater and his father had formed a business, J. B. Sclater & Son located at 5 South 14th Street. The Richmond City Directory listed his occupation as a commercial broker in 1873.

The 1877 Richmond City Directory listed him as a clerk working for his father.

Personal life Sclater never married. He was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. His grave was marked by an ornamental urn placed there by his sweetheart. On August 27, 1958, the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity dedicated a marker for Sclater's grave.