Abraham Lott

Abraham Lott, Phi, 1849, Phi Alpha 1859-1860

Abraham Lott, Phi, 1849, was a successful attorney, judge and politician in Brooklyn, New York.

He was the fifteenth initiate of the Phi chapter at New York University.

The Lott family emigrated from Holland and settled in New York in 1680. It was one of
the oldest and most prominent families in New York and the men of that name played
important roles in the history and development of Kings County (Brooklyn). Which until January 1, 1898, was an independent incorporated city.

Brother Lott studied for the bar with the law firm of Lott, Murphy & Vanderbilt, of which
his father, John, was the managing partner. He was elected Surrogate of Kings County,
comprising the City of Brooklyn, in 1885 and filled that position until his unexpected
death of Bright’s Disease in 1889.

He was a director of the Brooklyn Safe Deposit
Company, the Mechanics Insurance Company and other financial institutions.

During his tenure as Phi Alpha in 1859, the fraternity began printing the minutes of the Grand Chapter meetings and distributing them to the membership.  This communication grew into more impressive Bulletins in 1870 and small magazines later.