SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



JOHN ELLOR TAYLOR. 



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JOHN ELLOR TAYLOR, Ph.D., F.L.S., 

 J F.G.S., so well known to our readers as Editor 

 of Science-Gossip for many years, died at 

 Ipswich on September 28th, 1895. He was born 

 a: Levenshulme, near Manchester, about sixty 

 years ago, but he appeared to be in some doubt 

 of his actual age. His father was foreman in a cotton 

 factory, and is long dead, but his mother still lives, 

 and is upwards of 

 ninety years old. In 

 his youth Taylor was 

 of an exceedingly 

 religious frame of 

 mind, being a strong 

 Methodist. His chief 

 reading was old ser- 

 mons of "Wesleyan 

 divines. It is said 

 he came across Hugh 

 Miller's "Testimony 

 of the Rocks," which 

 brought about the 

 necessity for choice 

 between theology 

 and science. His 

 after life showed his 

 decision. Dr. Tay- 

 lor's first start in life 

 was in the engineer's 

 shop of the London 

 and North- "Western 

 Railway, at Crewe. 

 His evenings and in- 

 tervals from work 

 were devoted to self- 

 education, which ap- 

 pears to have been 

 all he possessed. He 

 had, however, a re- 

 markable faculty for 

 using such know- 

 ledge as he obtained. 

 On. leaving Crewe, Dr. Taylor 

 Chester, and there contributed 

 newspapers, which were subsequently repub- 

 lished, forming his first book. About 1S62, he 

 became sub-editor of the "Norwich Mercury,'" 

 under Richard Noverra Bacon, who, on establish- 

 ing " The People's Weekly Journal " of that city, 

 appointed Ta}dor editor. While at Norwich, 

 during an epidemic of small-pox, he volunteered 

 to \isit the stricken people and describe their 

 cbndition in the newspaper ; in doing so he 

 contracted the disease, which left its mark upon 

 him. 





The Late Editor of Scie.nce-Gossip. 



— :vei 

 articles 



Man- 



s:~e 



In 1872 Dr. Taylor succeeded Mr. Knights as 

 curator of the Ipswich Museum, to which the 

 Corporation added a lectureship. The Museum 

 lectures continued until wit hin recent years. It 

 was from this beginning that he started his Science 

 Lectures, which he has conducted with some 

 success. Under his care the Ipswich Museum 

 grew, according to the fashion of museum manage- 

 ment of those days ; 

 but for various rea- 

 533A Wa sons Dr. Taylor did 



not adapt himself 

 and his museum to 

 the highly scientific 

 arrangements in 

 similar institutions 

 at the present day. 

 Dr. Taylor was a 

 \> prolific writer, and 

 m\ issued quite a num- 

 fdV ber of popular books. 

 m In 1385, Dr. Tay- 



imw lor journeyed on a 

 \\\\\ lecturing tour of nine 

 \uV months to Australia. 

 a/v • For some years past 

 . ' ' he has advocated 

 Jhh search for coal in 

 $S East Anglia, being 

 W strongly imbued with 

 the idea of its exist- 

 v ence in this region. 



But although he has 

 found disciples in 

 this belief who have 

 furnished the means 

 for borings, coal has 

 not as yet been found 

 of commercial value. 

 Dr. Taylor's chief 

 faculty was the 

 popularizing of 

 scientific knowledge, and there is little doubt 

 that his lectures and publications have formed the 

 starting point for many persons who have devoted 

 themselves to the study of one of the natural 

 sciences. His chief interests have been in geology 

 and botany. On the retirement of Dr. M. C. 

 Cooke, as Editor of " Hardwicke"s Science-Gossip," 

 J. E. Taylor received the appointment, which he 

 retained until August, 1893. 



A man who quickly made friends, Dr. J. E, 

 Taylor was, in manner, open, frank and genial, 

 full of fun and narrative, being a good teller of 

 anecdote. 



