Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 55.djvu/413

 TAYLOR, EDGAR (1793–1839), legal writer, translator, and biographer, fifth son of Samuel Taylor, a grandson of (1694–1761) [q. v.], was born at Banham, Norfolk, on 28 Jan. 1793. He was at school at Palgrave under [q. v.], who made him a good classical scholar. In 1809 he was articled to his uncle, Meadows Taylor, solicitor, of Diss, Norfolk. He had mastered Italian and Spanish before coming to London in 1814; subsequently he learnt German and French. In 1817, in conjunction with Robert Roscoe, a son of [q. v.], the historian, he inaugurated the firm of Taylor & Roscoe, solicitors, in King's Bench Walk, Temple. He was an original member of the ‘Noncon Club,’ founded in July 1817. His legal career, chiefly in equity practice, was prosperous. During 1824–6 his (anonymous) translations from the ‘Kinder und Haus-Märchen’ of J. L. and C. G. Grimm were published under the title ‘German Popular Stories,’ with illustrations by [q. v.] A second edition, entitled ‘Gammer Grethel,’ appeared in 1839. Attacked in 1827 by an incurable disease, and compelled (from 1832) to relinquish much of his professional work, he found literature a solace amid pain. His interest in the legal recognition of the rights of nonconformists was keen and untiring. He had taken, as a dissenting deputy, an active part in the movement for repeal (1828) of the Test and Corporation Acts; in 1837 he was appointed a commissioner (unpaid) for carrying out the Dissenters' Marriage Act. In ecclesiastical politics he co-operated with [q. v.] His personal charm and strength of character were very great. After long suffering, heroically borne, he died at Bedford Row on 19 Aug. 1839, and was buried in the Highgate cemetery. He married, in 1823, Ann, daughter of John Christie of Hackney, who survived him, with an only daughter.

Among his publications were: Posthumous were:  ‘The Suffolk Bartholomeans: a Memoir of John Meadows’ (or [q. v.]), 1840, 8vo (edited by Emily Taylor, see below).  ‘The New Testament … revised from the Authorised Version … by a Layman,’ 1840, sm. 8vo (edited by William Hincks [see under ]; a version of singular merit and beautifully printed). He wrote in the ‘Jurist,’ ‘Legal Observer,’ ‘Retrospective Review,’ ‘Westminster Review,’ and ‘Morning Chronicle.’ Among his contributions to the ‘Monthly Repository’ are a ‘Memoir’ (1819, pp. 248 sq.) of John James Wetstein, the biblical critic; and ‘Observations on Mahometanism’ (1820, pp. 257 sq.).
 * 1) ‘Lays of the Minne-singers … with Historical and Critical Notices,’ 1825, 8vo (illustrated).
 * 2) ‘The Book of Rights,’ 1833, 12mo (a digest of constitutional law, with comments).
 * 3) ‘Master Wace his Chronicle of the Norman Conquest, from the “Roman de Rou,” translated with Notes,’ 1837, 8vo (woodcuts); his notes are appended to Sir Arthur Malet's translation, 1860, 4to.

(1795–1872), sister of the above, wrote numerous historical tales, works of instruction for children, and popular biographies; she was also the writer of many hymns, some of considerable merit. Originally a dissenter, she joined the church of England under the influence of [q. v.] She died in 1872.



TAYLOR, EDWARD (1784–1863), Gresham professor of music, son of (1750–1826) [q. v.], hymn-writer, was born at Norwich on 22 Jan. 1784. He came of an old unitarian family. His great-grandfather was (1694–1761) [q. v.] of Norwich. From 1808 to 1815 Edward Taylor was in business as an ironmonger at the corner of Rampant Horse Street, Norwich. He was sheriff of Norwich in 1819. In 1825 he removed to London and joined his brother [q. v.] and his cousin, John Martineau, as civil engineers at York Place, City Road. Want of success in the business led him to enter the musical profession in 1827, when he was forty-three years old. His early musical education had been somewhat desultory and irregular. He had taken lessons from [q. v.], organist of Norwich Cathedral, and on the flute and oboe from [q. v.], a well-known local musician. For the first triennial Norwich musical festival of 1824 he trained the chorus, engaged the band and singers, and made out the entire programme. His earliest successes were as a vocalist. He had a fine rich bass voice and commanding presence. He sang at the festival of 1827, and conducted those of 1839 and 1842. For the festival of 1830 he translated Spohr's ‘Last Judgment,’ which was then performed for the first time in England. He was on very friendly terms with Spohr, who was his guest at 3 Regent Square, King's Cross, in 1839 and 1847. He visited Spohr at Cassel in