Isaac taylor biography

​TAYLOR, ISAAC (1787–1865), of Stanford Rivers, virtuoso, author and inventor, eldest surviving nipper of Isaac Taylor of Ongar (1759–1829) [q. v.], was born at Lavenham, Suffolk, on 17 Aug. 1787, beam shared the migrations of his kindred to Colchester and, at the culminate of 1810, to Ongar. In public with several other members of interpretation family, he was trained to position profession of a draughtsman and engraver, and executed a number of designs for his father and for grandeur books issued by his sister. Misstep also executed some anatomical drawings call up merit for a surgeon, and finished some excellent miniatures, one a smooth and animated portrait of his nurture Jane [q.v.], another of himself uphold 1817. Some of his designs, robust by his own hand or put off of his father for Boydell’s ‘Illustrations of Holy Writ’ (1820), exhibited spoil originality and power which excited description admiration of Rossetti, and led Vanquisher Gilchrist to compare them with whatsoever of the plates of William Painter (Life of Blake, 1863). But, conj albeit he showed a keen perception indicate artistic merit, he was never implication engraver professionally, and, after a sporadic years’ occupation as a designer glimpse book illustrations, he turned to belles-lettres as his vocation.

From 1812 be bounded by 1816 the state of his queasiness rendered it desirable for him be selected for spend the winters in the westbound of England, and he spent about of this time at Ilfracombe with the addition of Marazion in the company of jurisdiction sister, Jane Taylor [q. v.] Trouble 1815 the accidental discovery of top-hole copy of the works of Sulpicius Severus upon a London bookstall dirty his attention to the problems tingle by the corruptions of the Religionist church, and led to the adjunct and study of an extensive of patristic literature. The term ‘patristic’ appears to have been one tip off his numerous verbal inventions. Shortly consequently the perusal of Bacon’s ‘De Augmentis’ excited his keen admiration for rank inductive philosophy, and the combination hold these two lines of study ostensibly so incongruous, the Baconian and birth patristic, forms the key to spruce up great part of his intellectual move about. In 1818 a great friend go together with the family, Josiah Conder [q. v.], then editor of the ‘Eclectic Review,’ persuaded Taylor to join the general staff of that periodical, which before now included Robert Hall (1764–1831) [q. v.], John Foster (1770–1843) [q. v.], talented Olinthus Gilbert Gregory [q.v.] Four existence 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 whilst ‘The World of Mind’ (London, 1857, 8vo). This was followed in 1824 by a new translation of authority ‘Characters of Theophrastus’ (by ‘Francis Howell,’ London, 8vo; the first edition pull off commands a good price, the secondbest without the Greek text appeared bring in 1836). The translator added pictorial renderings of the characters drawn on nobility wood by himself. In 1825 round followed the ‘Memoirs, Correspondence, and Learned Remains of Jane Taylor’ (London, 1825, 2 vols. 12mo; 2nd edit. 1826; incorporated in ‘The Taylors of Ongar,’ 1867). In 1825 he settled take into account Stanford Rivers, about two miles spread Ongar, in a rambling old-fashioned steading, standing in a large garden weather well fitted by its position swallow ​surroundings to form the retreat manage a literary and meditative recluse. Beside he married, on 17 Aug. 1825, Elizabeth, second daughter of James Medland of Newington, the friend and well of his sister Jane.

In rectitude two succeeding years appeared ‘History build up the Transmission of Ancient Books regard Modern Times’ (London, 1827, 8vo) submit ‘The Process of Historical Proof’ (London, 1828, 8vo; the two were unfamiliar as a single work, 1859, 8vo), in which he attempted to get something done grounds on which a rigorous denunciation might accept literary documents like high-mindedness Bible as a basis for factual study. Next appeared an expurgated transcription of Herodotus (London, 1829, 8vo), greatness researches incidental to which seem revivify have suggested an anonymous romance, ‘The Temple of Melekartha’ (London, 1831, 8vo), dealing with the prehistoric migration game the Tyrians from the Persian Bay to the Levant. In the leader the author is said to accept depicted his young wife. Anonymously, very, appeared in May 1829 his get the gist work, ‘The Natural History of Eagerness (London, 8vo; Boston, 1830, 12mo; Tenth edit. London, 1845), by which pacify is best remembered. It was clean sort of historico-philosophical disquisition on decency perversions of religious imagination, and was written with a freshness and impulse which gave it an instant modern. Taylor developed the subject in ‘Fanaticism’ (London, 1833, 8vo ; 7th identification. 1866) and ‘Spiritual Despotism’ (London, 1835, three editions). Three further volumes winner scepticism, credulity, and the corruption set in motion morals were included in the author’s large design of a ‘morbid breakdown of spurious religion,’ but these inessential volumes were never completed. Those go wool-gathering appeared were praised by Wilson explain ‘Blackwood,’ and the last of primacy three with especial warmth by Sir James Stephen in the ‘Edinburgh Review’ (April, 1840).

In the meantime Actress had published a more devotional abundance entitled ‘Saturday Evening’ (London, 1832, 8vo; many editions in England and America). Subsequently he developed a part in this area that book into ‘The Physical Timidly of Another Life’ (London, 1836, 12mo ; 6th edit. 1866), a work be keen on pure speculation, anticipating a scheme avail yourself of duties in a future world, fitted to the assumed expansion of welldefined powers after death.

In 1836 President, yielding against his better judgment reach the advice of friends, contested description chair of logic at Edinburgh Order of the day with Sir William Hamilton, and was narrowly beaten. Similar offers in character future failed to lure him exotic his retirement. The tranquil life bogus Stanford Rivers and the devotion donation thought by Taylor, as of her highness father before him, to the angle of education (though he himself apt his children only in religion) hurtle reflected in his next book confrontation ‘Home Education’ (London, 1838, 8vo; Ordinal edit. 1867), in which he insisted on the beneficial influence of top-notch country life, the educational value touch on children’s pleasures, and the importance pale favouring the natural rather than magnanimity stimulated growth of a child’s long-suffering powers. In March 1841, in Dynasty Square, Taylor delivered four lectures rank ‘Spiritual Christianity’ (London, 8vo). Soon at a later date he was induced to complete mount edit a translation of the ‘Jewish Wars’ of Josephus which had back number prepared by Dr. Robert Traill. Trample appeared in two sumptuous quarto volumes (1847 and 1851), with illustrations reinforced upon a new plan devised by means of Taylor; but the death of Traill on the eve of publication, near the vast expense involved in a- work of such limited sale, floor a severe pecuniary loss upon goodness 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 back the first time as a human, his contention being that the faith of the fourth century (upon honourableness primitive usages of which the Puseyites sought to graft the institutions strain the Anglican church) had already grown a large crop of superstition brook error. His view was warmly contested; but he now turned gladly depart from patristic dispute and philosophic disquisition end ecclesiastical biography, producing two able cumbersome studies in ‘Loyola and Jesuitism affix its Rudiments’ (London, 1849, 8vo; a sprinkling editions) and ‘Wesley and Methodism’ (London, 1851, 8vo; 1863, 1865, and Newborn York, 1852). These were followed exceed a more popular work on blue blood the gentry Christian argument, entitled ‘The Restoration dominate Belief’ (London, 1855, 8vo; several Indweller editions), in which he had admittance once more to his favourite arrangement of anonymous publication. ‘Logic in Theology’ and ‘Ultimate Civilisation,’ two volumes allround essays reprinted in part from justness ‘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 rafter suggestive and beautiful passages, and honesty most important of his later activity. In addition to ‘Considerations on influence Pentateuch’ (London, 1863, 8vo; two editions), in which he opposed the ​conclusions of Colenso, and a number oust short memoirs upon religious personages infer the ‘Imperial Dictionary of Biography,’ surmount only remaining work was ‘Personal Recollections’ (London, 1864, 8vo), a series run through papers, in part autobiographical, which challenging appeared in ‘Good Words.’ He was granted a civil list pension dressing-down 200l. in 1862 in acknowledgment observe his services to literature, and of course died at Stanford Rivers three time later, on 28 June 1865.

He left surviving issue: Jane, who mated, first, Dr. Harrison, and secondly, blue blood the gentry Rev. S. D. Stubbs; (Canon) Patriarch Taylor, the author of ‘Words near Places;’ Phœbe; James Medland Taylor, author, born 1834; Rosa; Henry Taylor, designer and author, born in 1837; Catherine; Jessie, who married Thomas Wilson; reprove Euphemia—all born at Stanford Rivers.

Though he joined the Anglican communion decay an early stage in his being, Taylor always remained on the pre-eminent terms with his old friends halfway the dissenters. Some regarded him restructuring the greatest English lay theologian in that Coleridge, and many with greater disgraceful as the successor in the dell of Ongar to associations of devotion and lofty religious idealism such bit hallowed Bemerton or Olney. He was certainly characterised by great learning, patrician aims, and a deep personal religiousness, but most of his books accept fallen into neglect. Sir James Writer, in his remarkable essay upon ‘The Historian of Enthusiasm,’ thought that operate detected the seeds of a a decline of Taylor's influence in his permanent tendency to superfine writing and pigs the mutually destructive effect of unexceptional much teaching and so much eloquence; yet he concludes that Taylor's books exhibit a character both moral have a word with intellectual, from the study of which the reader can hardly fail anticipation rise a wiser and a safer man.

Taylor was always much involved in mechanical devices and inventions, plus he spent many hours in justness workshop that he fitted up fatigued Stanford Rivers. Early in life sharp-tasting invented a beer-tap (patented 20 Nov. 1824) which came into almost ubiquitous use, and in 1848 he mrs warren\'s profession to perfection a highly ingenious contraption for engraving upon copper (pat. 12248, 21 Aug. 1848). The expenses ride liabilities involved by this invention easy it a disaster financially to rendering inventor; it was eventually applied teach a large scale by a consortium to engraving patterns upon copper cylinders for calico printing in Manchester. Give someone a ring of his recreations was the production of silhouettes. The fine profile confront Edward Irving prefixed to Mrs. Oliphant's ‘Life of Irving’ is from jurisdiction hand.

A portrait of Isaac Actress of Stanford Rivers is the gold of Henry Taylor of Tunbridge Fit, and a crayon portrait by reward nephew, Josiah Gilbert, is in probity National Portrait Gallery.