Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 55.djvu/463

 founded engineering works, and patented the hot-blast process in the manufacture of iron, which Neilson and MacIntosh simultaneously patented in London; but the validity of the Paris patent was disputed, and was not established till 1832, just before its expiration. In 1834 he submitted to Louis-Philippe a scheme for supplying Paris with water by a tunnel from the Marne to a hill at Ivry, just as he had previously proposed for London a nine-mile tunnel to Hampstead Hill; but nothing came of it. In 1834 he erected machinery for a flour-mill at Marseilles, and became a partner in the business, which, however, under protectionist pressure, was soon deprived of the privilege of grinding in bond. Taylor thereupon, with his sons Philip Meadows and Robert, founded engineering works at Marseilles, and in 1845 he bought a shipbuilding yard at La Seyne, near Toulon, which became a large and flourishing concern. From 1847 to 1852 he resided at San Pier d'Arena, near Genoa, where the Sardinian government had invited him to establish works; but the political troubles induced him to return to Marseilles. The loss of four of his eight children having affected his health, he disposed of his business in 1855 to the Compagnie des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée. ‘Papa Taylor,’ as he was called, was very popular with his workmen. He died at St. Marguerite, near Marseilles, on 1 July 1870. He prided himself on having taken part in the first steamboat trip at sea, on having seen the start of the first steam-engine, and on having witnessed at Somerset House Wheatstone's first electric telegraph experiments. He contributed in 1819 to the ‘Quarterly Journal of Science,’ and in 1822 to the ‘Philosophical Magazine.’ He was a member of the French Legion of Honour and the Sardinian order of SS. Maurice and Lazarus.

His brother, (1779–1863), mining engineer, was born at Norwich on 22 Aug. 1779. In 1798 he became manager of Wheal Friendship mine at Tavistock. In 1812 he set up as a chemical manufacturer at Stratford in Essex, and in 1819 was founder of the consolidated mines at Gwennap. He was also mineral agent to the Duke of Devonshire and to the commissioners of Greenwich Hospital. In 1807 he was elected a fellow of the Geological Society, and acted as treasurer from 1816 to 1844. In 1825 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, and was one of the founders of the British Association on 26 June 1832, holding the office of treasurer till September 1861. He was one of the founders of University College, London, to which he acted as treasurer for many years. Taylor died in London on 5 April 1863. He was the author of ‘Statements concerning the Profits of Mining in England’ (London, 1825, 8vo), edited ‘Records of Mining’ in 1829, and contributed numerous articles to various scientific journals (Proc. of Royal Soc. vol. xiii. p. v; and, Bibl. Cornub.)

[Information from the family; Philip M. Taylor's Memoir of the Taylor Family, privately printed, 1886; Mrs. Ross's Three Generations of Englishwomen; Marseilles newspapers, July 1870; Philosophical Magazine, January 1800, p. 357.] 

TAYLOR, POLICARPUS (d. 1780), rear-admiral, was on 21 June 1739 promoted to be second lieutenant of the Augusta with Sir Chaloner Ogle [q. v.] He seems to have gone out with Ogle to the West Indies, and in June 1741 was moved by Vernon to the Boyne, his own flagship. On 2 May 1743 he was promoted to be captain of the Fowey frigate on the Jamaica station, and continued in her till 1747, when he was moved by Rear-admiral (afterwards Sir Charles) Knowles [q. v.] to the Elizabeth of 64 guns, and, after the abortive attempt on St. Iago de Cuba, to the Cornwall, Knowles's own flagship. As flag-captain, Taylor took part in the engagement off Havana on 1 Oct. 1748. When Knowles returned to England he put Taylor in command of the Ripon, and left him as senior officer on the station. In the following autumn he was recalled, and arrived at Spithead early in January 1749–50. In the spring of 1756 he was appointed to the Marlborough, but on 7 June to the Culloden, with orders to go out with Sir Edward (afterwards Lord) Hawke [q. v.] and join her at Gibraltar. He seems to have brought her to England in the course of 1757 and to have had no more service, though by a confusion with Wittewronge Taylor [q. v.] —aggravated by his connection with Knowles, the Cornwall, and Hawke—he is said to have commanded the Ramillies in 1758. In 1762 he was superannuated with the rank of rear-admiral ‘in the fleet,’ or, as it was then called, ‘yellowed,’ and passed the rest of his life in retirement in Durham, where he died in 1780.

[Charnock's Biogr. Nav. v. 261; official letters, &c., in the Public Record Office.] 

TAYLOR, REYNELL GEORGE (1822–1886), general of the Indian army, was the youngest son of Thomas William Taylor of Ogwell, Devonshire, who served with the 10th hussars at Waterloo. Taylor was born at Brighton on 25 Jan. 1822. From Sand-