M. D. K. Taylor
Encyclopedia
Marion DeKalb Taylor or M. D. K. Taylor (October 13, 1818 – June 22, 1897) was an American
politician in Alabama
and Texas
, as well as a general in the Confederate
army during the American Civil War
. He was a member of the Alabama Legislature
for two stints between 1842 and 1846, and served in both the Texas House of Representatives
and the Texas Senate
. In the Texas House, Taylor served three non-consecutive terms as Speaker of the House
, and, in the Texas Senate, was twice elected President pro tempore of the Texas Senate.
, Georgia
to Anne Mathews and Ward Taylor, who was a blacksmith, farmer, and Methodist preacher. The family had moved to Butler County, Alabama
, by 1822. M. D. K. Taylor received his education in Alabama and studied medicine there. Taylor married the 14-year-old Elizabeth Sarah McDaniel in 1838 and, for the next 24 years, they would have some nine children together. Taylor was elected to the Alabama Legislature from Butler County in 1842. He was an advocate for the annexation of Texas
, a position which cost him re-election in 1844. However, he was again sent to the Alabama Legislature in 1845, serving through the following year.
In January 1847, Taylor and family moved to Cass County, Texas
(present-day Marion County
), where he served as Postmaster for a time. He was elected to the House of Representatives of Third Texas Legislature
(1849–1851), and the Senate of the Fourth
Legislature from District 5
(1851–1853). After a Senate redistricting, Taylor was elected from the 7th District
for the Fifth
, Sixth
, and Seventh
Legislatures (1853–1859). In the Fifth Legislature, Taylor was elected President pro tempore of the Senate, a position he also held for part of the Seventh Legislature.
He returned to the House for the Eighth Legislature
and was elected Speaker
, defeating Nicholas Henry Darnell
45 votes to 33 on the second ballot. In the Tenth Texas Legislature
, Taylor was again elected Speaker, defeating Constantine W. Buckley
, 45 votes to 18. During this session, held in the midst of the Civil War
, Taylor helped to pass resolutions praising Jefferson Davis
, and stating support of the Confederate government. Taylor also served as a Brigadier General
for the 7th Militia Brigade during the Civil War.
In 1864, his wife Elizabeth died, probably during childbirth. Shortly thereafter, Taylor married Sarah Adda Pardue, who would herself die in 1866.
In 1873, for the Thirteenth Texas Legislature
, Taylor was elected Speaker for an unprecedented third time, defeating W. A. Ellett 76 votes to 10.
Taylor was very active in Democratic Party
affairs, attending the Democratic State Conventions in 1872 and 1888, while serving as president of the 1876, 1878, and 1880 state conventions. Taylor was also a delegate to the 1876
Democratic National Convention
in St. Louis.
According to some sources, Taylor was the father of several illegitimate African American
children, one of whom he sent east to attend school.
Taylor died after a fall on June 22, 1897 and is buried in the Taylor family cemetery near Jefferson.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, as well as a general in the Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
army during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was a member of the Alabama Legislature
Alabama Legislature
The Alabama Legislature is the legislative branch of the state government of Alabama. It is a bicameral body composed of the Alabama House of Representatives, with 105 members, and the Alabama Senate, with 35 members...
for two stints between 1842 and 1846, and served in both the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
and the Texas Senate
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
. In the Texas House, Taylor served three non-consecutive terms as Speaker of the House
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the Texas House of Representatives. The Speaker's main duties are to conduct meetings of the House, appoint committees, and enforce the Rules of the House...
, and, in the Texas Senate, was twice elected President pro tempore of the Texas Senate.
Biography
Taylor was born in Jones CountyJones County, Georgia
Jones County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 10, 1807. As of 2010, the population was 27,740 . The county seat is Gray.-History:The county is named after U.S...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
to Anne Mathews and Ward Taylor, who was a blacksmith, farmer, and Methodist preacher. The family had moved to Butler County, Alabama
Butler County, Alabama
Butler County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Captain William Butler, who was born in Virginia and fought in the Creek War, and who was killed in May 1818. As of 2010 the population was 20,947...
, by 1822. M. D. K. Taylor received his education in Alabama and studied medicine there. Taylor married the 14-year-old Elizabeth Sarah McDaniel in 1838 and, for the next 24 years, they would have some nine children together. Taylor was elected to the Alabama Legislature from Butler County in 1842. He was an advocate for the annexation of Texas
Texas Annexation
In 1845, United States of America annexed the Republic of Texas and admitted it to the Union as the 28th state. The U.S. thus inherited Texas's border dispute with Mexico; this quickly led to the Mexican-American War, during which the U.S. captured additional territory , extending the nation's...
, a position which cost him re-election in 1844. However, he was again sent to the Alabama Legislature in 1845, serving through the following year.
In January 1847, Taylor and family moved to Cass County, Texas
Cass County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,438 people, 12,190 households, and 8,654 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 13,890 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
(present-day Marion County
Marion County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,941 people, 4,610 households, and 3,120 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 6,384 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
), where he served as Postmaster for a time. He was elected to the House of Representatives of Third Texas Legislature
Third Texas Legislature
The Third Texas Legislature met from 5 November 1849 to 3 December 1850 in its regular session and two called sessions. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1849.-Sessions:...
(1849–1851), and the Senate of the Fourth
Fourth Texas Legislature
The Fourth Texas Legislature met from 3 November 1851 to 7 February 1853 in its regular session and one called session. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1850.-Sessions:...
Legislature from District 5
Texas Senate, District 5
District 5 of the Texas Senate is a senatorial district that serves Brazos, Burleson, Freestone, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Robertson, Trinity, Walker and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas...
(1851–1853). After a Senate redistricting, Taylor was elected from the 7th District
Texas Senate, District 7
District 7 of the Texas Senate is a senatorial district that serves a portion of Harris county in the U.S. state of Texas. The current Senator from District 7 is Dan Patrick.-2006:-2002:-2000:-1996:-1994:...
for the Fifth
Fifth Texas Legislature
The Fifth Texas Legislature met from 7 November 1853 to 13 February 1854 in its regular session. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1853.-Senate:...
, Sixth
Sixth Texas Legislature
The Sixth Texas Legislature met from 5 November 1855 to 1 September 1856 in its regular session and one adjourned session. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1855.-Sessions:...
, and Seventh
Seventh Texas Legislature
The Seventh Texas Legislature met from 2 November 1857 to 16 February 1858 in its regular session. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1857.-Senate:...
Legislatures (1853–1859). In the Fifth Legislature, Taylor was elected President pro tempore of the Senate, a position he also held for part of the Seventh Legislature.
He returned to the House for the Eighth Legislature
Eighth Texas Legislature
The Eighth Texas Legislature met from 7 November 1859 to 9 April 1861 in its regular session, a first called session, and an adjourned session. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1859....
and was elected Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
, defeating Nicholas Henry Darnell
Nicholas Henry Darnell
Nicholas Henry Darnell was an American politician in Tennessee and Texas. He was the only person to serve as Speaker of the House of the Republic of Texas House of Representatives and the State of Texas House of Representatives...
45 votes to 33 on the second ballot. In the Tenth Texas Legislature
Tenth Texas Legislature
The Tenth Texas Legislature met from 2 November 1863 to 15 November 1864 in its regular session and two called sessions. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1863.-Sessions:...
, Taylor was again elected Speaker, defeating Constantine W. Buckley
Constantine W. Buckley
Constantine W. Buckley was an American politician in Texas who served two non-consecutive terms as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives between 1861 and 1863....
, 45 votes to 18. During this session, held in the midst of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Taylor helped to pass resolutions praising Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
, and stating support of the Confederate government. Taylor also served as a Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
for the 7th Militia Brigade during the Civil War.
In 1864, his wife Elizabeth died, probably during childbirth. Shortly thereafter, Taylor married Sarah Adda Pardue, who would herself die in 1866.
In 1873, for the Thirteenth Texas Legislature
Thirteenth Texas Legislature
The Thirteenth Texas Legislature met from 14 January to 4 June 1873 in its regular session. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1872.-Senate:Lieutenant Governor: Vacant...
, Taylor was elected Speaker for an unprecedented third time, defeating W. A. Ellett 76 votes to 10.
Taylor was very active in Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
affairs, attending the Democratic State Conventions in 1872 and 1888, while serving as president of the 1876, 1878, and 1880 state conventions. Taylor was also a delegate to the 1876
1876 Democratic National Convention
The 1876 Democratic National Convention assembled in St. Louis just nine days after the conclusion of the Republican National Convention. The convention opened with three contenders, Bourbon Democrat Samuel J. Tilden of New York, Thomas Hendricks of Indiana and Union General Winfield S. Hancock of...
Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in St. Louis.
According to some sources, Taylor was the father of several illegitimate African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
children, one of whom he sent east to attend school.
Taylor died after a fall on June 22, 1897 and is buried in the Taylor family cemetery near Jefferson.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals