Author: Taylor, Isaac
Biography:
TAYLOR, Isaac (1759-1829: ODNB)
He was born in London, a son of the distinguished engraver and publisher Isaac Taylor (1730-1807) and his wife Sarah Hackshaw Jefferys (1733-1809). Apprenticed to his father, he became a sought-after engraver himself, but he went his own way in religion: he joined the Fetter Lane Independent congregation in London and later was ordained as an Independent minister serving in Colchester (1796-1810) and in Ongar, Essex (1811-29). In 1781 he married Ann Martin (1757-1830), who shared his religious views and shared with him the work of raising six children according to their own original educational system. He and his wife both eventually wrote educational works and some juvenile fiction, though Bunyan Explained to a Child is Taylor's only work in verse. (Advice to the Teens, 1818, is thought to be the first title using the term "teen.") From 1786 to 1796 they lived in the village of Lavenham, Suffolk, with a house, adjoining workshop, and garden. At this time, illustrations of Shakespeare brought good money as well as a degree of celebrity. Taylor won the annual prize for best engraving from the Society of Arts in 1790. All the children learned their father's trade and assisted in print-making and book-illustration. Four of them became writers themselves, three as writers for the children's market--Jane and Ann Taylor (qq.v.) with spectacular success, and Jefferys Taylor (q.v.) in a smaller way. After 1796, Taylor divided his time between pastoral duties and engraving commissions, the publishing house of the Dartons being a major patron. Taylor suffered from poor health, however, for most of his life. He died at home in Ongar after a short illness and was buried in the burial-ground of his chapel. His wife Ann survived him by less than six months and was buried beside him. ("Taylor [née Martin], Ann," "Taylor, Isaac," "Taylor, Jane," ODNB 12 Nov. 2020; Darton)