Harold McCarter Taylor
Encyclopedia
Harold McCarter Taylor CBE
TD
(13 May 1907 - 23 October 1995) was a New Zealand-born British mathematician
, theoretical physicist and academic administrator, but is best known as a historian of architecture and the author, with his first wife Joan Taylor, née Sills, of the three volumes of Anglo-Saxon Architecture, published between 1965 and 1978.
, son of a merchant, and graduated with an MSc
from the University of Otago
, whence he continued in 1928 to Cambridge
and Clare College. He worked with Ernest Rutherford
at the Cavendish Laboratory
in Cambridge, received his PhD in 1933 and became a university lecturer and a Fellow of Clare College. Whilst still in New Zealand he had been an officer in the New Zealand Artillery, and on 3 March 1934 he was commissioned as a lieutenant
in the university Officer Training Corps, commanding the artillery section. He was promoted local captain
on 10 March 1934, and received that rank on a substantive basis on 24 November 1935, and was promoted major on 1 May 1936. Following the start of World War II
, he was transferred to the Royal Artillery
on 30 April 1941, rising to be Senior Instructor in Gunnery at the Royal School of Artillery
, with the rank of temporary lieutenant-colonel, and was awarded the Efficiency Decoration
(TD). He was awarded the J. H. Lefroy Gold Medal of the Royal Artillery, the only non-regular recipient, for "furthering the science and application of artillery" His experience as a lecturer came in useful when he was a student on a staff course, and the instructor was having great difficulty explaining the difference between two types of gunsight, he offered to help the instructor explain (to the horror of the other students), and was then thanked by the instructor, "Thank you now we all know". He returned to part-time service after the war, and on his eventual retirement from the army in 1957, he was permitted to retain the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel.
After the war, Taylor was appointed university treasurer in Cambridge. He and continued in academic administration as principal of the University College of North Staffordshire in 1961; when, in 1962, the college became the University of Keele, he became its first Vice-Chancellor. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1955 Queen's Birthday Honours
.
Taylor developed an interest in Anglo-Saxon architecture
early in life. With his wife Joan, née Sills (1903–1965), whom he had married in 1933, he began a survey of more than 400 churches with some remnants of Anglo-Saxon architecture, culminating in the publication in 1965 of the first two volumes of their co-authored Anglo-Saxon Architecture. Joan died a few weeks before publication. In 1966, Taylor remarried his personal assistant Dorothy Judith Samuel (born 1931), who was also co-author of the third volume of his great work.
The archeologist Philip Rahtz
, with whom Taylor collaborated in the investigation of St Mary's Priory Church, Deerhurst
, describes Taylor as a "devout Christian" and as "unfailingly elegant, witty, gracious and neat. Rahtz notes in his obituary of Taylor: "Although he wore old clothes in the field, they were always pressed and clean. We could never understand how they remained so, even when he was clambering on dirty roofs or in and out of trenches."
Taylor was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
. In 1981, the Society awarded him and Charles Thomas
the first Frend Medal, set up by the church historian and archaeologist William Hugh Clifford Frend
, "for services to early Christian archaeology". He was appointed a member of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England
on 1 January 1972.
He died in St Neots
, Cambridgeshire
, and was buried in the All Souls' cemetery, Cambridge.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
TD
Efficiency Decoration
The Efficiency Decoration is a defunct medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
(13 May 1907 - 23 October 1995) was a New Zealand-born British mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, theoretical physicist and academic administrator, but is best known as a historian of architecture and the author, with his first wife Joan Taylor, née Sills, of the three volumes of Anglo-Saxon Architecture, published between 1965 and 1978.
Life and career
Taylor was born in DunedinDunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, son of a merchant, and graduated with an MSc
MSC
- Computers:* Mario Strikers Charged* Microsoft Common Console Document, file for the Microsoft Management Console* Microelectronics Support Centre* Microsoft Corporation* MIDI Show Control* Message Sequence Chart...
from the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, whence he continued in 1928 to Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
and Clare College. He worked with Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford, 1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson OM, FRS was a New Zealand-born British chemist and physicist who became known as the father of nuclear physics...
at the Cavendish Laboratory
Cavendish Laboratory
The Cavendish Laboratory is the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge, and is part of the university's School of Physical Sciences. It was opened in 1874 as a teaching laboratory....
in Cambridge, received his PhD in 1933 and became a university lecturer and a Fellow of Clare College. Whilst still in New Zealand he had been an officer in the New Zealand Artillery, and on 3 March 1934 he was commissioned as a lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in the university Officer Training Corps, commanding the artillery section. He was promoted local captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
on 10 March 1934, and received that rank on a substantive basis on 24 November 1935, and was promoted major on 1 May 1936. Following the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was transferred to the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
on 30 April 1941, rising to be Senior Instructor in Gunnery at the Royal School of Artillery
Royal School of Artillery
The Royal School of Artillery is the principal training establishment for artillery warfare in the British Army. Established in 1915, it is located at Larkhill, on the south edge of Salisbury Plain in the United Kingdom...
, with the rank of temporary lieutenant-colonel, and was awarded the Efficiency Decoration
Efficiency Decoration
The Efficiency Decoration is a defunct medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
(TD). He was awarded the J. H. Lefroy Gold Medal of the Royal Artillery, the only non-regular recipient, for "furthering the science and application of artillery" His experience as a lecturer came in useful when he was a student on a staff course, and the instructor was having great difficulty explaining the difference between two types of gunsight, he offered to help the instructor explain (to the horror of the other students), and was then thanked by the instructor, "Thank you now we all know". He returned to part-time service after the war, and on his eventual retirement from the army in 1957, he was permitted to retain the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel.
After the war, Taylor was appointed university treasurer in Cambridge. He and continued in academic administration as principal of the University College of North Staffordshire in 1961; when, in 1962, the college became the University of Keele, he became its first Vice-Chancellor. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1955 Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
.
Anglo-Saxon architecture
Anglo-Saxon architecture was a period in the history of architecture in England, and parts of Wales, from the mid-5th century until the Norman Conquest of 1066. Anglo-Saxon secular buildings in Britain were generally simple, constructed mainly using timber with thatch for roofing...
early in life. With his wife Joan, née Sills (1903–1965), whom he had married in 1933, he began a survey of more than 400 churches with some remnants of Anglo-Saxon architecture, culminating in the publication in 1965 of the first two volumes of their co-authored Anglo-Saxon Architecture. Joan died a few weeks before publication. In 1966, Taylor remarried his personal assistant Dorothy Judith Samuel (born 1931), who was also co-author of the third volume of his great work.
The archeologist Philip Rahtz
Philip Rahtz
Philip Arthur Rahtz was a British archaeologist.Rahtz was born in Bristol. After leaving Bristol Grammar School, he became an accountant before serving with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. During war service, Rahtz became friends with the archaeologist Ernest Greenfield...
, with whom Taylor collaborated in the investigation of St Mary's Priory Church, Deerhurst
St Mary's Priory Church, Deerhurst
St Mary's Priory Church, Deerhurst, near Gloucester, England, is unusual in that it contains many elaborate Anglo-Saxon details, including carvings and sculpture. At the beginning of the 9th century land was granted to Deerhurst, and it is generally accepted that significant work was carried out...
, describes Taylor as a "devout Christian" and as "unfailingly elegant, witty, gracious and neat. Rahtz notes in his obituary of Taylor: "Although he wore old clothes in the field, they were always pressed and clean. We could never understand how they remained so, even when he was clambering on dirty roofs or in and out of trenches."
Taylor was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
. In 1981, the Society awarded him and Charles Thomas
Charles Thomas (historian)
Antony Charles Thomas, CBE, FSA is a British historian and archaeologist who was Professor of Cornish Studies at Exeter University, and the first Director of the Institute of Cornish Studies, from 1971 until his retirement in 1991...
the first Frend Medal, set up by the church historian and archaeologist William Hugh Clifford Frend
William Hugh Clifford Frend
The Reverend Professor William Hugh Clifford Frend was an English ecclesiastical historian, archaeologist, and Anglican priest.-Academic career:* Haileybury College...
, "for services to early Christian archaeology". He was appointed a member of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England
Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England
The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England was the body formerly responsible for documenting the records of English historical monuments. It was merged with English Heritage on 1 April 1999....
on 1 January 1972.
He died in St Neots
St Neots
St Neots is a town and civil parish with a population of 26,356 people. It lies on the River Great Ouse in Huntingdonshire District, approximately north of central London, and is the largest town in Cambridgeshire . The town is named after the Cornish monk St...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, and was buried in the All Souls' cemetery, Cambridge.