Pat Buckley (1926 – 2007) was a Canadian-American socialite known for her philanthropy and influence in New York’s high society. She was the wife of conservative author William F. Buckley Jr. and mother to writer Christopher Buckley.
Born in Vancouver to a wealthy family, Patricia Taylor had an elite education before attending Vassar College. She left to marry William F. Buckley Jr., a rising political commentator. The couple lived between their Connecticut estate and a Park Avenue duplex in Manhattan, frequently hosting prominent intellectuals and politicians. Her sharp wit and dark humor made her a memorable hostess in conservative circles.
Buckley became a leading fundraiser for major cultural institutions, chairing the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit from 1978 to 1995, transforming it into a premier social event. She also supported causes such as the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and veterans’ organizations. Recognized for her impeccable style, she was inducted into the International Best-Dressed Hall of Fame in 1975.
Naturalized as a U.S. citizen in the 1990s, she remained active in philanthropy despite health issues stemming from a 1965 skiing accident. She passed away in 2007 in Stamford, Connecticut, after complications from an infection. Her legacy endures in the cultural and charitable institutions she helped shape.