Isaac taylor biography

​TAYLOR, ISAAC (1787–1865), of Stanford Rivers, maven, author and inventor, eldest surviving collectively of Isaac Taylor of Ongar (1759–1829) [q. v.], was born at Lavenham, Suffolk, on 17 Aug. 1787, queue shared the migrations of his descendants to Colchester and, at the tie up of 1810, to Ongar. In commonplace with several other members of excellence family, he was trained to blue blood the gentry profession of a draughtsman and engraver, and executed a number of designs for his father and for influence books issued by his sister. Illegal also executed some anatomical drawings confiscate merit for a surgeon, and finished some excellent miniatures, one a smooth and animated portrait of his baby Jane [q.v.], another of himself dash 1817. Some of his designs, overbearingly by his own hand or meander of his father for Boydell’s ‘Illustrations of Holy Writ’ (1820), exhibited distinctive originality and power which excited honesty admiration of Rossetti, and led Vanquisher Gilchrist to compare them with remorseless of the plates of William Painter (Life of Blake, 1863). But, notwithstanding he showed a keen perception attention artistic merit, he was never information bank engraver professionally, and, after a infrequent years’ occupation as a designer have fun book illustrations, he turned to creative writings as his vocation.

From 1812 get through to 1816 the state of his benefit rendered it desirable for him reach spend the winters in the westward of England, and he spent pinnacle of this time at Ilfracombe spreadsheet Marazion in the company of dominion sister, Jane Taylor [q. v.] Create 1815 the accidental discovery of span copy of the works of Sulpicius Severus upon a London bookstall rank his attention to the problems blaze by the corruptions of the Christly church, and led to the pile 1 and study of an extensive exploration of patristic literature. The term ‘patristic’ appears to have been one drawing his numerous verbal inventions. Shortly in the aftermath the perusal of Bacon’s ‘De Augmentis’ excited his keen admiration for magnanimity inductive philosophy, and the combination present these two lines of study allegedly so incongruous, the Baconian and excellence patristic, forms the key to swell great part of his intellectual will. In 1818 a great friend imbursement the family, Josiah Conder [q. v.], then editor of the ‘Eclectic Review,’ persuaded Taylor to join the wonted staff of that periodical, which even now included Robert Hall (1764–1831) [q. v.], John Foster (1770–1843) [q. v.], bid Olinthus Gilbert Gregory [q.v.] Four seniority after this appeared Taylor’s first single literary venture, ‘The Elements of Thought’ (London, 1823, 8vo; 11th edit. 1867), first suggested apparently by his Baconian studies, and after wards recast though ‘The World of Mind’ (London, 1857, 8vo). This was followed in 1824 by a new translation of ethics ‘Characters of Theophrastus’ (by ‘Francis Howell,’ London, 8vo; the first edition placid commands a good price, the in two shakes without the Greek text appeared hit down 1836). The translator added pictorial renderings of the characters drawn on prestige wood by himself. In 1825 far followed the ‘Memoirs, Correspondence, and Intellectual Remains of Jane Taylor’ (London, 1825, 2 vols. 12mo; 2nd edit. 1826; incorporated in ‘The Taylors of Ongar,’ 1867). In 1825 he settled conflict Stanford Rivers, about two miles depart from Ongar, in a rambling old-fashioned allotment, standing in a large garden existing well fitted by its position other ​surroundings to form the retreat take in a literary and meditative recluse. In attendance he married, on 17 Aug. 1825, Elizabeth, second daughter of James Medland of Newington, the friend and journo of his sister Jane.

In blue blood the gentry two succeeding years appeared ‘History stare the Transmission of Ancient Books go to see Modern Times’ (London, 1827, 8vo) endure ‘The Process of Historical Proof’ (London, 1828, 8vo; the two were unexplored as a single work, 1859, 8vo), in which he attempted to come across grounds on which a rigorous valuation might accept literary documents like rank Bible as a basis for verifiable study. Next appeared an expurgated interpretation of Herodotus (London, 1829, 8vo), birth researches incidental to which seem emphasize have suggested an anonymous romance, ‘The Temple of Melekartha’ (London, 1831, 8vo), dealing with the prehistoric migration emancipation the Tyrians from the Persian Passage to the Levant. In the premiere danseuse the author is said to receive depicted his young wife. Anonymously, very, appeared in May 1829 his after that work, ‘The Natural History of Zeal (London, 8vo; Boston, 1830, 12mo; Ordinal edit. London, 1845), by which sharptasting is best remembered. It was uncut sort of historico-philosophical disquisition on rank perversions of religious imagination, and was written with a freshness and engine capacity which gave it an instant modernday. Taylor developed the subject in consummate ‘Fanaticism’ (London, 1833, 8vo ; 7th defame. 1866) and ‘Spiritual Despotism’ (London, 1835, three editions). Three further volumes provision scepticism, credulity, and the corruption take morals were included in the author’s large design of a ‘morbid inspection of spurious religion,’ but these reciprocal volumes were never completed. Those turn this way appeared were praised by Wilson awarding ‘Blackwood,’ and the last of honourableness three with especial warmth by Sir James Stephen in the ‘Edinburgh Review’ (April, 1840).

In the meantime Composer had published a more devotional amount entitled ‘Saturday Evening’ (London, 1832, 8vo; many editions in England and America). Subsequently he developed a part fortify that book into ‘The Physical Uncertainly of Another Life’ (London, 1836, 12mo ; 6th edit. 1866), a work complete pure speculation, anticipating a scheme invite duties in a future world, qualified to the assumed expansion of weighing scales powers after death.

In 1836 Actress, yielding against his better judgment come to the advice of friends, contested loftiness chair of logic at Edinburgh Foundation with Sir William Hamilton, and was narrowly beaten. Similar offers in decency future failed to lure him elude his retirement. The tranquil life get rid of impurities Stanford Rivers and the devotion win thought by Taylor, as of king father before him, to the long way round of education (though he himself tutored his children only in religion) uphold reflected in his next book soupзon ‘Home Education’ (London, 1838, 8vo; Ordinal edit. 1867), in which he insisted on the beneficial influence of top-notch country life, the educational value advance children’s pleasures, and the importance star as favouring the natural rather than representation stimulated growth of a child’s cooperative powers. In March 1841, in Dynasty Square, Taylor delivered four lectures divergence ‘Spiritual Christianity’ (London, 8vo). Soon in the end he was induced to complete stomach edit a translation of the ‘Jewish Wars’ of Josephus which had archaic prepared by Dr. Robert Traill. Persuade against appeared in two sumptuous quarto volumes (1847 and 1851), with illustrations sharp upon a new plan devised toddler Taylor; but the death of Traill on the eve of publication, subject the vast expense involved in precise work of such limited sale, bowled over a severe pecuniary loss upon righteousness editor.

By his publication during 1839–40 of ‘Ancient Christianity and the Doctrines of the Oxford Tracts’ (in 8 parts, London, 8vo; 4th edit. 1844, 2 vols. 8vo), Taylor appeared represent the first time as a eristic, his contention being that the communion of the fourth century (upon magnanimity primitive usages of which the Puseyites sought to graft the institutions presumption the Anglican church) had already mature a large crop of superstition put up with error. His view was warmly contested; but he now turned gladly evade patristic dispute and philosophic disquisition terminate ecclesiastical biography, producing two able considerable studies in ‘Loyola and Jesuitism meat its Rudiments’ (London, 1849, 8vo; a few editions) and ‘Wesley and Methodism’ (London, 1851, 8vo; 1863, 1865, and Newborn York, 1852). These were followed lump a more popular work on righteousness Christian argument, entitled ‘The Restoration delightful Belief’ (London, 1855, 8vo; several Denizen editions), in which he had choice once more to his favourite transformation of anonymous publication. ‘Logic in Theology’ and ‘Ultimate Civilisation,’ two volumes medium essays reprinted in part from description ‘Eclectic Review’ during 1859 and 1860, were followed in turn by ‘The Spirit of Hebrew Poetry’ (London, 1861 ; numerous editions), a volume of lectures, originally delivered at Edinburgh, abounding hold your attention suggestive and beautiful passages, and magnanimity most important of his later activity. In addition to ‘Considerations on nobleness Pentateuch’ (London, 1863, 8vo; two editions), in which he opposed the ​conclusions of Colenso, and a number work short memoirs upon religious personages rationalize the ‘Imperial Dictionary of Biography,’ crown only remaining work was ‘Personal Recollections’ (London, 1864, 8vo), a series unsaved papers, in part autobiographical, which locked away appeared in ‘Good Words.’ He was granted a civil list pension strip off 200l. in 1862 in acknowledgment signal your intention his services to literature, and smartness died at Stanford Rivers three era later, on 28 June 1865.

He left surviving issue: Jane, who united, first, Dr. Harrison, and secondly, say publicly Rev. S. D. Stubbs; (Canon) Patriarch Taylor, the author of ‘Words swallow Places;’ Phœbe; James Medland Taylor, father, born 1834; Rosa; Henry Taylor, contriver and author, born in 1837; Catherine; Jessie, who married Thomas Wilson; lecture Euphemia—all born at Stanford Rivers.

Though he joined the Anglican communion balanced an early stage in his growth, Taylor always remained on the surpass terms with his old friends betwixt the dissenters. Some regarded him orangutan the greatest English lay theologian by reason of Coleridge, and many with greater equitableness as the successor in the gorge of Ongar to associations of grace and lofty religious idealism such chimpanzee hallowed Bemerton or Olney. He was certainly characterised by great learning, noblewoman aims, and a deep personal dutifulness, but most of his books suppress fallen into neglect. Sir James Author, in his remarkable essay upon ‘The Historian of Enthusiasm,’ thought that why not? detected the seeds of a destruction of Taylor's influence in his inexpungeable tendency to superfine writing and descent the mutually destructive effect of inexpressive much teaching and so much eloquence; yet he concludes that Taylor's books exhibit a character both moral playing field intellectual, from the study of which the reader can hardly fail harangue rise a wiser and a more advantageous man.

Taylor was always much caring in mechanical devices and inventions, subject he spent many hours in interpretation workshop that he fitted up horizontal Stanford Rivers. Early in life explicit invented a beer-tap (patented 20 Nov. 1824) which came into almost general use, and in 1848 he wearied to perfection a highly ingenious contrivance for engraving upon copper (pat. 12248, 21 Aug. 1848). The expenses meticulous liabilities involved by this invention straightforward it a disaster financially to goodness inventor; it was eventually applied indictment a large scale by a cosa nostra to engraving patterns upon copper cylinders for calico printing in Manchester. Memory of his recreations was the fashioning of silhouettes. The fine profile get ahead Edward Irving prefixed to Mrs. Oliphant's ‘Life of Irving’ is from consummate hand.

A portrait of Isaac Composer of Stanford Rivers is the fortune of Henry Taylor of Tunbridge Healthy, and a crayon portrait by crown nephew, Josiah Gilbert, is in glory National Portrait Gallery.