Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/100

96 was born in England about 1703, and came to Philadelphia from Bristol, and was soon engaged in a successful business; it is said his partner desiring to return to England in 1741 sold him his interest in the business for £7000 stg. Taylor was at this time in the City Corporation, and on 29 December, 1741, qualified as a member of the Governor's Council. In the latter part of 1744 the office for the collection of the customs being vacant by the death of Mr. Alexander he assumed its duties under a Deputation from Bedford the titular Collector, "rather than a friend should suffer by the office being depreciated and undervalued since the commencement of a French War." He was elected Mayor in 1745, but declining to serve was fined £30. He was made Colonel of the regiment of Associators for Defence formed under Franklin's lead in the latter part of 1747, the Lieutenant Colonelcy being offered to the latter but declined when Thomas Lawrence was commissioned. He fell into a contest with the Proprietaries on the purchase by him of a claim to about 20, 000 acres of land, which they were unwilling to grant. So persistent was he in this, that they directed Governor Hamilton to strike his name from the Council. He urged his claim in England in 1750; and returning to Philadelphia, he continued one of the members of the City Corporation until his final departure from the Province, in 1762, returning to the old country and taking up his residence in Bath where he died in 1772. His departure from the Province was signalised by a public dinner given him by his friends which attracted a notice in the Pennsylvania Gazette of 1 July, 1762:

On Thursday last an elegant Entertainment was prepared in the State House by a Number of the principal Gentlemen of this city, in order to bid Adieu to, and take their final Farewell of, Esq., late one of the Council, an Alderman of the City, and Deputy Collector of the Customs in this Port, now going to reside in England. Upwards of One Hundred Gentlemen attended Mr. Taylor on this occasion, and the greatest pleasure appeared on every countenance. Towards the close of this very agreeable Entertainment Mr. Taylor was addressed by one of the Company, in the Name of the Whole, and Thanks returned him for his faithful and upright Discharge of the several offices he had the Honour to