John Taylor (hymn writer)
Encyclopedia
John Taylor was a successful businessman, poet and composer of hymns from Norwich
, England.
.
John Taylor, at eight years of age, was sent to study with a business man in the village of Hindolveston
. Shortly after his father's death in 1762 he returned home to assist his mother with her affairs.
, one of which was entitled Verses written on the back of a Bank Note, a humorous look at the cashiers working the principal banking houses.
In 1773 he returned to Norwich and joined his brother Richard in the business of yarn manufacture. Four years later saw his marriage to Susanna, and the following year saw the beginnings of his work for the church. Taylor was first chosen to be a deacon, and went on to become treasurer of the church's benefactions. Taylor also oversaw the funding of local schools and his business expertise led to an increase in their funds. In 1781 he was elected to the Board of Guardians
, an organisation responsible for administering and distributing funds of parish workhouses, places where people who were unable to support themselves could go to live and work. While on the board, Taylor set about training the paupers of Norwich to spin yarn, earning many thousand pounds for the parish. In 1784, having restored the family fortunes, he took an active part in the foundation of the Norwich Public Library. He developed an interest in local politics, joining the Whig party as a radical reformer, emerging as their leader in Norwich. He made social contact with HRH Duke of Sussex, the duke of Albemarle, and John Coke, Squire of Holkham Hall
, who was nationally known as an agriculturalist.
. He wrote the following about his illness:
Taylor suffered many years of illness and found himself bedridden for a time. In the 1810s he regained some strength and by 1814 he contributed a selection of hymns for the congregation of the Octagon Chapel
, a Chapel which his father had helped to build and maintain.
While Taylor was being driven by horse and carriage with his son Philip, the horse was spooked, causing its driver and passengers to be thrown on the road. Taylor lost consciousness and was returned to his son Philip's house at Halesowen; he did eventually regain consciousness, although he could not speak. Taylor had begun to regain his speech when he took another turn for the worse and he died on 23 June 1826 at Halesowen.
the barrister, Robert Southey
, poet laureate, and Mrs Windham. John and Susannah raised seven children. Meticulous keepers of accounts, they drilled their children to be honest, to avoid debt, and to take control of their business dealings. Their sons were successful and prominent in learned societies. The children were:
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, England.
Early life
John Taylor was born to Richard and Margaret Taylor, and was baptized in the parish of St. George's Colgate. By Taylor's own accounts, his father Richard was a warm and caring provider as well as an honest and pious man. Richard Taylor was a local manufacturer whose own father, Dr. John Taylor, was a leading cleric. Dr. Taylor's maternal bloodline had a long history in Norwich, going back to the days of Henry IIHenry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
.
John Taylor, at eight years of age, was sent to study with a business man in the village of Hindolveston
Hindolveston
Hindolveston is a Village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The Village is west south west of Cromer, north north west of Norwich and north east of London. The village lies south of the town of Holt. The nearest railway station is at Sheringham for the Bittern Line which...
. Shortly after his father's death in 1762 he returned home to assist his mother with her affairs.
Mid life
Taylor returned to business three years later with an apprenticeship to two local manufacturers until 1768, when he left Norwich for a job as a bank-clerk in London, at Dinsdale, Archer and Ryde. It was during this time that he contributed occasional poetical pieces to the Morning ChronicleMorning Chronicle
The Morning Chronicle was a newspaper founded in 1769 in London, England, and published under various owners until 1862. It was most notable for having been the first employer of Charles Dickens, and for publishing the articles by Henry Mayhew which were collected and published in book format in...
, one of which was entitled Verses written on the back of a Bank Note, a humorous look at the cashiers working the principal banking houses.
In 1773 he returned to Norwich and joined his brother Richard in the business of yarn manufacture. Four years later saw his marriage to Susanna, and the following year saw the beginnings of his work for the church. Taylor was first chosen to be a deacon, and went on to become treasurer of the church's benefactions. Taylor also oversaw the funding of local schools and his business expertise led to an increase in their funds. In 1781 he was elected to the Board of Guardians
Board of Guardians
Boards of guardians were ad hoc authorities that administered Poor Law in the United Kingdom from 1835 to 1930.-England and Wales:The boards were created by the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, replacing the parish Overseers of the Poor established under the old poor law, following the recommendations...
, an organisation responsible for administering and distributing funds of parish workhouses, places where people who were unable to support themselves could go to live and work. While on the board, Taylor set about training the paupers of Norwich to spin yarn, earning many thousand pounds for the parish. In 1784, having restored the family fortunes, he took an active part in the foundation of the Norwich Public Library. He developed an interest in local politics, joining the Whig party as a radical reformer, emerging as their leader in Norwich. He made social contact with HRH Duke of Sussex, the duke of Albemarle, and John Coke, Squire of Holkham Hall
Holkham Hall
Holkham Hall is an eighteenth-century country house located adjacent to the village of Holkham, on the north coast of the English county of Norfolk...
, who was nationally known as an agriculturalist.
Illness and death
Starting around 1802, Taylor was afflicted by severe pains resulting from goutGout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
. He wrote the following about his illness:
Taylor suffered many years of illness and found himself bedridden for a time. In the 1810s he regained some strength and by 1814 he contributed a selection of hymns for the congregation of the Octagon Chapel
Octagon Chapel, Norwich
The Octagon Chapel is a Unitarian Chapel located in Colegate in Norwich, Norfolk, England. It is home to a growing liberal religious community, welcoming people of all religious faiths and none. The congregation is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.The chapel...
, a Chapel which his father had helped to build and maintain.
While Taylor was being driven by horse and carriage with his son Philip, the horse was spooked, causing its driver and passengers to be thrown on the road. Taylor lost consciousness and was returned to his son Philip's house at Halesowen; he did eventually regain consciousness, although he could not speak. Taylor had begun to regain his speech when he took another turn for the worse and he died on 23 June 1826 at Halesowen.
Works
Amongst his various business duties Taylor also found time to express himself on paper:- In 1784, inspired by a family reunion, he wrote his first family song; his song so pleased the attendees that it became regular practice for him to pen verses for festive gatherings.
- In 1789 Taylor wrote The Trumpet of Liberty, perhaps his best known work; on 5 November of that year Taylor sang this piece at a public dinner celebrating the first anniversary of the French RevolutionFrench RevolutionThe French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. - In 1790 he contributed poetry to The Norwich Cabinet, a radicalPolitical radicalismThe term political radicalism denotes political principles focused on altering social structures through revolutionary means and changing value systems in fundamental ways...
political publication which also featured poems by Amelia OpieAmelia OpieAmelia Opie, née Alderson , was an English author who published numerous novels in the Romantic Period of the early 19th century, through 1828.-Life and work:...
. In 1797 he also began to compile the history of the local OctagonOctagon Chapel, NorwichThe Octagon Chapel is a Unitarian Chapel located in Colegate in Norwich, Norfolk, England. It is home to a growing liberal religious community, welcoming people of all religious faiths and none. The congregation is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.The chapel...
congregation.
Family
In 1777, John married Susannah Cook, daughter of John Cook, a former Mayor of Norwich. Their home became the centre of a radical social gathering. Guests included Sir James Macintosh, Sir James Edward Smith the botanist, Henry Crabb RobinsonHenry Crabb Robinson
Henry Crabb Robinson , diarist, was born in Bury St. Edmunds, England.He was articled to an attorney in Colchester. Between 1800 and 1805 he studied at various places in Germany, and became acquainted with nearly all the great men of letters there, including Goethe, Schiller, Johann Gottfried...
the barrister, Robert Southey
Robert Southey
Robert Southey was an English poet of the Romantic school, one of the so-called "Lake Poets", and Poet Laureate for 30 years from 1813 to his death in 1843...
, poet laureate, and Mrs Windham. John and Susannah raised seven children. Meticulous keepers of accounts, they drilled their children to be honest, to avoid debt, and to take control of their business dealings. Their sons were successful and prominent in learned societies. The children were:
- John (1779–1863);
- RichardRichard Taylor (editor)Richard Taylor was an English naturalist and publisher of scientific journals. He became joint editor of the Philosophical Magazine in 1822 and went of to publish the Annals of Natural History in 1838. He edited and published Scientific Memoirs, Selected from the Transactions of Foreign Academies...
(1781–1858); - EdwardEdward Taylor (music writer)Edward Taylor was an English singer, writer on music, and Gresham Professor of Music from 1837.-Life:The son of John Taylor, he was born at Norwich on 22 January 1784. From 1808 to 1815 Edward Taylor was in business at the corner of Rampant Horse Street, Norwich...
(1784–1863); - Philip (1786–1870);
- Susan (b. 1788), married Dr. Henry ReeveHenry ReeveHenry Reeve was an English journalist.-Biography:He was the younger son of Henry Reeve, a Whig physician and writer from Norwich, and was born at Norwich. He was educated at the Norwich grammar school under Edward Valpy. During his holidays he saw a good deal of the young John Stuart Mill...
; - Arthur (b. 1790), a printer and F.S.A., author of ‘The Glory of Regality’ (London, 1820), and ‘Papers in relation to the Antient Topography of the Eastern Counties’ (London, 1869).
- Sarah, wife of John AustinJohn Austin (legal philosopher)John Austin was a noted British jurist and published extensively concerning the philosophy of law and jurisprudence....
the jurist.