Go down as the originator (7)
I believe the answer is:
founder
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'go down' is the first definition.
(I know that founder is a type of go down)
'the originator' is the second definition.
(founder is a kind of originator)
'as' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for founder that I've seen before include "(Of ship) fill with water and sink" , "One who makes an institution" , "Institution's former" , "Capsize, being an originator" , "Sink, come to grief" .)